HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2009-10-14, Page 3News
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Expositor • October 14, 2009 Pk1 .3
Seili takes fight against rural school closures to county
County councillors
Cheryl $eath
gailinEMM
_The bleeding of rural communities
must stop. -
That was the message delivered
by Coun. Joseph Seili (Huron East)
Oct. 7, during Huron County's coun-
cil session.
Seili said it is time Huron County
lead the way in a charge against ru-
ral school closures given the Avon
Maitland District School Board is
once again in the midst of forming
an' Accommodation Review Com-
mittee (ARC) entrusted with the
task of reviewing the operations of
six schools in the northeast portion
of the county and Iiiv`e schools in its
southern portion.
Two of those schools, Brussels and
Grey Central public, fall within Hu-
ron East's borders and if they were
to close, noted Seili, students would
have to travel outside of municipal-
ity's boundaries for their education.
"Boards are only interested in ac-
commodation spaces," said Seili, not-
ing the Brussels school is at 99 per
cent capacity. "I think it's unfair. It's
unjust."
In asking councillors to form a mo-
tion compelling Huron -Bruce MPP
Carol Mitchell and Education Minis-
ter Kathleen Wynne to address the
situation, Seili said the province has
been less than forthcoming with its
rural constituents.
Seili noted .Premier Dalton
McGuinty campaigned on the plat-
form of no school closures, but the
practice is continuing in rural areas.
Further, said Seili, rural communi-
ties need education and healthcare
to draw residents, development and
growth.
As it stands,
Huron East has
seen its emer-
gency depart-
ment hours
curtailed at Sea -
forth Communi-
ty Hospital, lost
its high school in
Seaforth, as well
as elementary
schools in Walton
and Vanastra.
"This is only
round two (of the
ARC),"- said Seili.
"It will affect ev-
eryone of you in
round three."
Larry Adams,
the county's Chief
Administrative
Officer, reported
a groupdubbed
t1 ..Community
wait to hear Community School Alliance presentation Oct. 16
School Alliance is currently gather-
ing its resources in an attempt to
stave off school closures. That group,
said Adams, could use the county's
support in its plans to take its con-
cerns to the political realm.
"There is a groundswell from
across the province," said Adams,
noting the Alliance's resolution is to
addressed at the county's Oct 16
committee -of -the -whole session.
Coun. George Robertson (South
Huron) noted his municipality is
also facing an ARC for the second
consecutive time, this time with five
schools under review when only one,
Usborne Central, was under the mi-
croscope last year.
"We were told, straight out, that
they are going to close a school. P
riod," he said.
Coun. Neil Vincent (North Huron)
also saw his municipality undergo
an ARC last year, with the result
being three schools - Blyth, East
Wawanosh and Wingham - are to
close in favour of one larger regional
site.
The biggest problem, said Vincent,
is it seems the board's agenda is al-
ready set and that "they change the
parameters" as the process moves
along.
Seili said another note of concern is
2e per cent of the property tax base is
funnelled towards education, which
is -a figure that will remain the same
regardless of whether a municipality
continues to have schools within its
borders.
"I think it's time to take a stand,"
he said. "If we're going to be leaders
it's time we say no not only to our
MPP, but also to the Minister of Edu-
cation."
While Councillors Bill Dowson and
Dave Johnston (Bluewater) noted
an ARC is also under way on their
home turf, Johnston said it seems
the board of education doesn't con-
sider the impact of school closures
on communities.
"If we start losing our schools, our
hospitals, our communities are going
down," he said, urging fellow coun-
cillors to form a unified front on the
issue.
As per the suggestion of Warden
Ken ,Oke, council agreed to forego
passing a resolution on the matter
until it hears the Alliance's proposal
at its Oct. 16 session.
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