HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1999-10-27, Page 5Lucan .resident and event master of ceremonies Bill Haskett writes down a bid
in the silent auction portion of the Harvest Hop, held in Lucan last Friday at the
Lucan Community Memorial Centre.According to organizer Sue Haskett
$14,000 was raised for the Canadian Diabetes Association and 300 people
attended.The evening included a live auction, dancing and a late night buffet.The
item that brought in the highest bid was a solid maple hall stand which was auc-
tioned for $It000. Bill Haskett said organizers were pleased with the results of
the evening and described it as "very successful." (photo/Scott Nixon)
Wednesday, October 27, 1999
Exeter Times -Advocate
Parents speak out cie
potential school closures
By Stew Slater
SPECIAL TO THE T -A
SEAFORTH — At its
meeting on Oct. 12, the
Avon Maitland District
School Board got a taste
of what it may face as it
seeks to shut schools in
Huron and Perth
Counties.
Two concerned
parents made
presentations at the
meeting, imploring the
board to consider all
options before closing
schools.
"I don't believe we
only have two options,"
said Mike Brine, both a
parent and chair of the
community-based school
council for South Perth_
Centennialelementary
school, west of St.
Marys. Brine was
referring to suggestions
made by board officials,
at an inform ation
meeting earlier this
month, that Avon
Maitland must either
close schools or see a
decrease in the quality
of the education it offers.
"Why not reorganize
our administration right
now and save the money
before we decide to close
the schools?" Brine
asked. He said
elementary schools
could share senior
administration, such as
principals and vice -
principals, .to cut staffing
costs.
He also suggested the
board : strive to boost
enrollment dollars by
providing • ; unique
programs, such. as a co-
op program , . .where
students run, -their 'own
business, to attract
students who might,
otherwise, attend school
' in other boards.
1 don't believe our
problem is that -ire have
too much space," . : he
said. "I believe our
problem is that we don't
have enough money," to
fill those spaces with the
types . `of programs
people. expect.
The • format of the
meeting didn't allow for
a question and answer
period with board staff
or trustees, but Brine's
speech did inspire a
response from the
board.
Director of education
Lorne Rachlis said the
board had already cut
administration as much
as possible without
closing schools.
And when a second
concerned parent,
Daniel Gill, gave a short
presentation asking why
enrollment had plunged
so significantly, trustee
Donald Brillinger
commented on the
general depopulation of
rural areas.
These two
presentations, however,
are probably the tip of
the iceberg for the board
as it moves closer to
closing schools. Board
staff is on the road
across Huron and Perth
meeting with the public
while delivering
information sessions
about potential closur
and the public still },.,,
the chance to appear s
delegations in several
board meetings before
decisions are made.
Avon Maitland
officials hope to avoid
the public anger they
faced last year over the
issue, but Brine warned
them Tuesday that
emotions will run high
over the coming months.
He even admitted
some of that passion
might have irrational
origins. When he was a
child attending South
Perth, he said, his pride
in his own school made
him believe it was better
than nearby North Ward
school (now Arthur
Meighen) in St. Marys.
Now, as his children
attend South Perth and
wonder if they'll be
forced to attend Arthur
Meighen, that belief
remains. "Its not rational
but its still there," Brine
said, urging the board to
recognize the emotions
which surround the
issue.
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