HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1998-12-02, Page 3vveanesday, December 2. 1998
h Exeter Times -Advocate
Parents show their displeasure
about possible school closures
by Michele Greene
CLINTON - The issue of school closures wasn't on the
agenda of the Avon Maitland District School Hoard last
.Tuesday night. but parents were making sure. trustees
knew they haven't gone away.
Blaine Pryce. a parent from Stephen Central Public
School, and Ken Mathers, spokesperson for people
concerned about "Iurnberry Public School, both
addressed the board on the controversial issue.
"Don't send any schools to the trauma centre when
they have heartburn," said Mathers.
The board is now studying its, enrolment figures and
comparing them to Ministry of Education and Training'
expectations and funding levels.
A report on how the board compares is expected at
the next meeting on Dec..8 in Clinton. Janet Baird-
Jackson, superintendent, said trustees will review the
information and consider.options such as boundary
changes, program changes or school closures. Part-
time secretaries and principals who teach are also pos-
sible options, she said.
"The consensus of our community is there should be
no list on Dec. 8." said Mathers.
Ile said the_ board has enough money to run the
schools since the province's announcement to fund
boards at a higher rate of enrolment and to hold fund-
ing -levels at the current'levels.
"In. the short term, make adjustments without dis-
rupting the students," he said.
Baird -Jackson said the added funding will make a big
difference for the board. Boards will be funded at a
rate 20 percent higher than their enrolment. With ele-
mentary schools in Avon Maitland at 80 percent capac-
ity and secondary schools. with 73 percent capacity, the
board expects to be funded at 100 capacity, said Baird -
Jackson.
The added funding is an indication the province rec-
ognized the unique issues of rural Ontario which Can't
be funded the same way as urban boards, said Baird-
JackSnri--
In the News
:i-. 4
Avon Maitland School
Board closer to
knowledge of finances
by Michele Greene
. CLINTON . The Avon Maitland District School
Board is the closest it has ever been to knowing
how nrurh grant money it • will receive from: the
Ministry of hduratiun and 'training. .
Marilyn Marklevitz, superintendent of business
and finance, said the board expects $127 million
to cover the school year I'roni Sept.!, 1'198 to
Aug. 31, 1999. • .
That amount is up about .$3 million from early .
expectations. But Markle.vitz cautium'd that it
isn't new money that can be- used to make up the
difference in areas the board is short. •
The ministry has given $2.7 million to the board
for special education so eductional assistants, can
be hired to work with special needs students, she
said. Also, the board will receive $1.4 million
towards its retirement gratuities paid out to retir-
ing teachers.
Additional money was forthcoming, for trans-
portation. Marklevitz is still waiting to bear if the
board will qualify for the full early years learning
grant. The grant calculation seems punitive to •
boards who offer junior kindergarten. she wrote
in a letter to the. Ministry of Education and
Training. The board is at risk o1' losing $850,000
• for the early years learning program for Grade 1
to 3 students.
. This new program is offered at Upper Thames
Elementary School, Mitchell, and North l:asthope
Public School, near Shakespeare.
Marklevitz said the board must compare the
revenue to its expenditures before a final budget
can be approved.
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