Huron Expositor, 2009-05-13, Page 22Sii auto 4itii .6 F woivt
Paps 22 The Huron -Expositor • May 13, 2009
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More Catholic students will be walking under new policy
Stpw Slater
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a significant number of students
in Huurron and Perth Counties, as
amended policies for bus transporta-
tion are implemented by the area's
two district school boards.
At a regular meeting Monday, April
27, Huron -Perth Catholic trust-
ees - approved amendments to their
transportation policy, to be imple-
mented in September, 2010.
Among the five trustees, only Vince
McInnes (Northeast Huron, North
Perth, Perth East) voted against the
amendment.
"It's going to create some problems
in some areas of our jurisdiction," re-
ported Stratford trustee Ron Marcy,
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Congratulations Uncle Greg & Aunt
Erin on your Wedding bay (May 16)
for
Shea Austin & Rob Bodendistle
Friday May 22nd, 2009
pm - l :00am
Mount Forest Community entre
Age of 'ority. - Light Lunch Provided
Music DJ - Door Prizes - Games
CKETS $8.00
Bus shuttle & ticket combo $25.00
at 8:30prn Seaforth Arena
Limited # of b is tickets....please purchase in advance
Shannon Calder 600 - 0053
Jatilyn Hulley 527 - 0151
Alicia Dick 887 - 9797
Sarah McDonald 357 - 6804
who served on a joint Catholic/Avon
Maitland committee that worked to
coordinate the policy revamp.
The committee was formed after
the provincial government forced "co-
terminous" boards across Ontario to
combine their transportation servic-
es in .the most efficient way possible
including a requirement that they
utilize computer-based programs for
route selection and determination of
walking distance.
Ac ording to business superinten-
dent Gerry Thuss, the computer pro-
gram provides a more effective way
of calculating walking distance.
That's because it doesn't rely sim-
ply on a radius around the school --
which,
which, while used in the past, doesn't
generally account for obstacles to
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90th Birthday
Thee family of
Mary Mair -Colson
invite you to celebrate
with her at an
• OPEN HOUSE
Sunday, May 24, 2009
1-4p.m.
Heartland Community Church
Victoria St., Clinton
Best wishes only. itk
walking.
But, combined with a decision to
move to the same 'walkingdistance
threshold in both boards, tere could
be a large number of Huron -Perth
students who will find themselves
without the previously -provided bus
transportation in September, 2010.
According to Marcy, the largest
number of affected students will
likely be in Stratford and Wmgham.
He noted that the board could de-
cide to grant an exception to the
policy, but under the agreement,
that would mean the Catholic board
would have to pick up the tab for the
busing — over and above the approved
funding for the joint Avon Maitland/
Huron -Perth program.
McInnes expressed concern that
parents would accuse the board
of abandoning the transportation
needs of students under pressure
from the Avon Maitland board.
"Ifs you've got even one mother
who's upset that her kid has to walk
a little bit, there's nothing worse,"
he warned.
McInnes noted that the Catholic
and public school boards in the two
counties have been working for 40
years to coordinate bussing, with
varying — and often disappointing —
levels of success. Being forced by the
government to try again isn't going
to make it any better, he said.
Education director Martha Dutri-
zac, however, praised the trustees
and administrators who served on
the committee looking at the two
boards' transportation policies, sug-
gesting their "very genuine and co-
operative work" has consistently fo-
cused on the welfare of students.
"It has not been without its strug-
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Family and friends are invited to a
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Paul McElwain
Jill Dolmage
Friday, May 22, 2009
9 p.m. -.1 a.m.
Seaforth Community Centre
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}
gles. And it will continue to have
struggles."
As for potential complaints from
parents, Thuss argued the board al-
ready deals with them now: when a
student falls just outside the exist-
ing Huron -Perth walking distance
threshold.
"Unfortunately, we have to draw
a line in whatever method we're us-
ing," he said, quickly adding; "I don't,
minimize the fact that a parent is
concerned."
Thuss then expressed support for
approving the policy amendments,
cautioning trustees that "the minis-
try has said we need to become more
efficient" and that funds for trans-
portation will be cut or will not in-
crease year -over -year.
Dutrizac added that communicat-
ing the reasons for the changes is
crucial. .
"The message we send out to our
communities and to our parents over
the next several months is critical to
the success of the new (transporta-
tion) policy."
Riley Ward, a Grade 9 student at Central
Huron, competes In the recent Battle of
the Band contest.
4