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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2009-10-14, Page 3News Theliu 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. ...to get the tools yc need to Find a job! Give yourself the advantage. Attend a FREE One Day Workshop in ✓ Resume Preparation ✓ Interview Techniques CaII your local Centre for Errip Goderich 519-524-2515 Clinton 519-482-1700 Seaforth 519 -527 -0305: - Come in today for your TD Personal Assessment and see exactly where your retirement plan stands. Everyone seems to be thinking about their retirement plan these days. Put your mind at ease by requesting a complimentary TD Personal Assessment. Your assessment is the first step to knowing where you stand financially, and often takes as little as 30 minutes. 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