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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1998-11-04, Page 18N►Y1rxe�Qttt. \utralbet 4 199t4 Community School board backs down on closure list but will begin financial study into all Avon Maitland schools Huru1 MPP Helen. Johns speaks to a crowd of approxitrtately 500 yeople at St'-atiurds northwestern Secondary School on- Oct. 27 during•an Avon Martiand District Scnoct Board meeting Johns said the province isnt {orcin€ the board tc cause schools and said the board will inJact'recesve More funding ''firs year. than its predecessors did last year. By Scott Mimi -• f-lTt;,\'fKUlt1) i'areiits uud slutit:nts cul' ertned about tiltlt� :.ghouls t:11!Sing call' ,;.''it .t 11[11 a, lithe While. 1't‘'d of 21 1 11 11 11(1 50t) left t +Northwe;stter n t.)eciiit(tii,rt ;r'tluu'' leeling ! a ins happier its. Ut:t 'L tit ! ru::tta�� in ' ilc ,fit fin 1vtuttlund District tici►ui i t:uurd. “it - d uuitttti- iuuusft it il;uure i Uua(lllue tit Dire t1[ decide on Closint schools. The. board will- however, begin a financial :audt title ell. 51i of its schools. And white parents lots the meeting. satisfied. board chairwoman Abby Armstroug cautioned them. • 'lu• work t over Ke've juts begun.'' she said. there is still ntut:h work lei be_. dune ;unarrning-,t:tiuol funding -and if -that .work islet done • nut' seltmils will close." , The meeting. which ine1itded 22 speakers. often grew emotionalist; par- ents were fighting to keep their dial- (iron s schools open. Jutl►ue bongull. speaking for Lisburne (-Antral Sithuul ;aid "1't:ar and frustration'. wut'e• the biggest leelings among the People of Usborue . ecause they weren't involved n) the, beard'. original discussions un closures. Dougall dtis'uribod Lisburne's good •puutts. such at, its newly renovated library and 'tt.5 virtual classroom and ,said its pr.uxitnity to the. Ausable batvfitstd Conservation Authority is also ' u benefit tu.students. . ' Bussing Usborne students to St. Marys. as proposed b3 ilii' boardwill be tattoo to the children Millis is neither buil nor '-culistu." she -Said of the 90-nt,tsute Lu, .t,ides students would hitt •Lt take et"t•ry uwriting and` alt ertit ou • it, tlte•► � e're bussed, til Si Mur vs • Lion ;idi urged the hoard d but to: cave gover•nnleatt Pressure and give Lilt stud., mini tune SIte'said the potent:,potent:,o! t bornWilling ore to work with the suited,, to figure put what Wde about funding pro lain . - . Shouna Bakt ' of 5Lepttt•ti .(;.tettt.e•u4 Public Schutt ;a .the heard should he in nu hurry ,to t: uyila•.a closure lis., -Wit t have till t e. time in tate world baker 'also c ri Lic:t�ed , iLte Ward for spending S•1 million uu new otht;t iu Seaford' tend ut td thi "1'hauie+s ,vttllei District School urd u tut example of s r id ut h Bo ion school- that suecesstul'h' reacted to cutbacks without closing schools. "Might i suygust right now that you- -Worn ou--Itsar,n to live within your budget" she asked. ,• Ptit--U'Kuurke. wise. of Stephen. said the board's tltreuts to close- schools resulted in "u month of total cQntu- • stun" and said ,the only reason the truth. was gettingnut about the putieu- tiul closures was because of pressure from the parents. u. • . . He .accused the board of not tisttitiing • to parental concerns and ,said. ") uu haveattempted to lead us intu sume- titing that is appalling." lie predicted if Stephen closes par- -buts will simply tttpvt+ their children into the Catholic school syr teat,' Karen N'indt.or of Mc•Curd1 Public School said she was ,proud tif. her sc:hc►ol and said the school has. ti strong special education department , ;• 14'ttile she said she rea.lir.es issue. of closing Yrh(►ois i . bigger tfi.an an) .one. !.caiui►1' she said "there is no curn- prutu.ise hen * it comt+s.lo cur. chiJ- dren' and urged parer)ts to fight together agatite.-t ':ctii►c►1 closures. "Uttitt:d 'v - w,� .he y1 f t►>2g.' . tl'indsor Said �t►a 1LLS( XU1 t'' entire aUdter)t-.►-'to stand .by reading'. out :the t) tn. t;` of ytitet1.1.iLtl1-ef1tectrd tcticrri!.. 'he also called fur t1 'tw v -t $.ar iriura.u'rsur1J ti,n lite review ul '~afoul clottures ' lluru:rt MPY Neter', Jot,ri Spoke to cf►+.+t rs Iruttt tnt'trtber's reading fruit') u letter she riet,en ed frvtri 1..duc.atlor, Minister !Jute Jotuourt. SJ1e its;0. tttt At o:rt Mttit(diid' JJvurd wi1J u'itual+t 1,e tmcen'trtk �. rrtl)1to11. frJy1 tt, fundrttg fhail-it: pf►ede►.easor•s the 1•lur,uti and Perth boards received i!J - 1997, JC►Lui also said r'eviewJrig closures is • v srhe►ol board dter'itsivi, riot a gvsi•r-r)-- ttiettt Qttt'rtilUtt. - ' t'4tt•',1ett.rr atti:td '.1.)aNIug r),i. F.. ne csa,ptiUit1 w'i1 Wit tttipac't the ratrulatjvr; c►i ti.tt1 'other grwtbs ' '' . Johns- oft0-.:ed to sit down Vi Ith the, board said the parent, to r►'view the tintiul.:rs . Ys.riti Mi'1 13e•rt Johnson cert►ue:d Joittt rt•ttntcrka - • . Muur-►e.'n 'Agtcr. zi okes ' ointen fur Seu titt,b tittd- District .High 'c.htivl, uc eased ttu board of having ar.i obses- sion with- closttiX schools arid -said titer'{ 'cert' L�v 11.1,21.1r)atat111111str21,1vs in the *new .At vu Mttitiattd .bva.rd : She also prey►ettted director of, adulation 1.oi"ne Kat:ittis a pink 'slip. telling-JtMii, fit isit t what student, aid patents won't or Bette S cat to tints. i1tc l -u dii»i.1hvaf 'froth titanschools named ()tribe Atvn Maitland potential closure list. did not asttu:.t' iwar(1'WUslees. - .) rustttt had 1 vi -d told tile audience. atter %utit)g btta.►nst tettc•urrert,'-Stud) 'to ,close SC1L1101S. "I take• ifr't'al uffeii'i lu yt:upli' riuuring duwu tont adtl)inis tratiun.' , - • I rustee flub Allan. who presented tice tuutivn• to disregard the J)ec. 3l deadline and begin a fipatiriaJ study Tutu all schools in the board. argued the board's potential t'lysure list was t.ituoll and said 'some cuwweuts -lrwii tt1,e audience were inappropriate. . "Pleas} dut)'t ever:do that again,' he urged the audience. • • 1 r J�tee Atje Tuyten-'sasid the audi- enc r- s outbursts. against the board wen- 1 nece ssan . --You're preachin 'g.tu the converted • you're trying to shoot they mes‘en• ger. We have ni choice.' Chairwoman Abbe Armstrong said despite the comments from Johns and Johnson she .still 'belie\ es there -isn't as rrruch monei available for the board this tear as there utas last.)ear and said the. board is definitely financially in ur• ,i' off than it was last } ear She added none of the trustr•4s -would be on the board if they didn't care for th'- ,quality !if education chil=- dren f'rrr-n t New trustee for -- North Perth elected at meeting by Midide Greene STRATFOKD - MI areas of the i Avon Maitland school district were j represented when trustee% held a controversial vote on ,school do - sures. Donald J3rillinger of Listowel,j 'was ttppui'nted -to the board i October Z7 to repreeetlt the' area of North Perth. Ile' cwt 'bis vote �• W11.03 trusts unanimously agreed - .1 to •clobe n.u'schools in Huron and Berth counties Last 'Tuesday "night in titratterd. ' . A 27 -yeas resident: of Listowel; l3rillinger retired in June 096' after .a 36. -year teaching career". Fur 25 year'•s,.h* taught in eieinep- tttry and secondary schools 9f the former -Perth County Board of P./ducat-ion: - following the meeting, members of the pubic thanked bit» for his .vote and told him, he was a brave wan to join the wheel board at .such s icutilU uyerstei tante. ' • Sriliibger said be witnessed seven major changes in' .education dosing his.tet+<ching'career. "This is ttnother A:hauge. But now I'm in a position to do some- thing ialwtxt it; he said. i3* il.lumet,' was appointed tullvw-. ing the resi,gnAttiun .ut' former 'wog.* t'hili.p gauu garters. 11 is a 4btr4)14"ai' apppinlntent until the �eikd of1 is bow':d's 1rrin• The next. aawiticpAti a ecUun i+riJJ be held in tioveiniaor 4000.