Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1978-04-13, Page 3CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1978—PAGE 3 • • School boundary changes debated The Huron County Board of Education will have a political gun to its head whenever it looks at cost saving proposals that concern school closings or school boundary changes. The fact became painfully clear to Seaforth trustee John Henderson last week when the board tabled a decision on a boun- dary change in Morris township in favor of a boundary study done on a county wide basis. Henderson, chairman of the board's property committee, asked the board to accept a proposal that 'would send 26 elementary school students from Brussels Public School to ast Wawanosh Public. Henderson made the proposal before a delegation of about 15 ratepayers, merchants and politicians from the village of Brussels. The board heard the property com- mittee's recommendation after a series of presentations from Brussels ratepayers asking that the students not be moved. The ratepayers claimed that the saving to the board by moving the students could not be justified stacked against the effects it would have on the children and the community. The residents of the village felt that the move would result in a disrupting of community spirit and togetherness. They felt that the students growing up, playing and going to school together favored community spirit which would be lost if the children were taken out of their school and put in another com- munity. The ratepayers asked that the board consider the impact the move would have on the community before it ac- cepted the proposal. They felt to some students the move would be a "tremendous emotional upheaval" and that the parents of the students should be allowed to comment on the matter before any permanent action is taken. They claimed the saving was not sub- stantial enough to warrant the children paying the "emotional price". John Henderson suggested to the board that whenever it looked into proposals concerning boundary changes or school closings it woulld have to deal with negative reactions from the ratepayers. He said the board would have to deal with public pressure because it would have to make decisions unfavorable to some ratepayers. "I don't see why you (the board) can't see where we're headed," said Hen- derson. "Between declining enrolment and the budget going up we're going down fast. When the budget comes out you'll see." In a report to the board the property committee estimated that the board would save $18,681 in teacher salaries and $2,880 in costs by doing away with a profitable classroom at Brussels. Henderson pointed out that the savings on the portable classroom also has got to be considered with recent demands from the Ontario Fire Marshall's office that the county portables be brought up to fire safety standardss another cost to the board. The Brussels Businessman's Association told the board that the transfer of the students may -have a serious impact on the business com- munity of the village. Ken Webster, who said he wasn't a businessman but sup- ported the merchants told the board that the loss of community spirit would also mean a loss to the merchants. He said the parents of the students would probably become involved in another told the board that he also was con- cerned about loss of community spirit and also about potentia) loss of jobs and residents. Krauter said the transfer of the students may result in two teachers and possibly two school bus drivers losing their jobs in Brussels and moving to another community. He said the village council was not anxious to see that happen because the workers were also taxpayers. Krauter said the council intended to fight for what the village of Brussels had now. He said he was out for the "good of Brussels not some other place." He said he was not against saving money but added that when the expense is swung from one place and put in another nothing is gained. Krauter said the village stood to lose a great deal more than just the jobs and taxpayers. He . said community spirit was now high and that Brussels had just completed construction of a $900,000 arena. He said that was a "little too expensive to have as a monument". He said the community lost its high school 30 years ago and that this could be the start of another loss. "Once bitten twice shy," he quipped. Henderson pointed out to the board that the transfer would not be as drastic as the Brussels delegation thought. He said the community would not lose two teachers but that the move amounted to the loss of half a teacher. He added that he did not know if the two bus drivers would lose their jobs. "But it would be great for the board if it could cut down on two bases," he said. community and may alter their shop- Zurich trustee Herb Turkheim said he ping habits. was opposed to asking any parents to "We (the merchants) sincerely hope transfer their children to another school. this is only a proposal and will end as He said in the past and now that he was such," said Webster. "opposed" to.asking parents to change J. Calvin Krauter, reeve of Brussels, their school support. Strike over, schools open.... • from page 1 staff hired within the pupil teacher ratio. The only other undecided issue in the 1977-78 contract was a sick leave gratuity clause the board wanted to alter. The clause offers teachers financial security involving up to half a year's salary for sick time. If the teachers had not lost time due to sickness the sick leave pay was made a gratuity given to the teachers at retirement after seven years of service to the board. The board wanted the gratuity clause reworded requiring a teacher to com- plete either 12 years of servjce or reach the age of 50 to be eligible for the gratuity. The teachers balked at the suggestion demanding that the clause remain unaltered. A final decision on the gratuity will be. left . to an arbitrator • along with teacher salaries for the next school year. Wages proved to be the only hurdle the parties couldn't clear in the 1978-79 contract. The teachers first proposal was for a 13.5 percent increase in wages next year including increments and the board countered with a four percent hike. The two adjusted their offers by about two percent but couldn't close the gap to anything less than five percent difference.' As "°a final solutign both agreed to send the wage settlement to an arbitration hearing that will be held some time before the school year begins in September. Salaries proved to be little problem in negotiations for 1977-78. The two sides agreed to an increase of 7.5 percent including increments. The hike brought Exeter supports Clinton..... • from page 1 market. Councillor Garon noted that this year many changes are being made to the market and there will be 12 con- sistent vendors each week. "They had difficulties with the mer- chants on the streets last year," ex- plained Garon as to why the proposed move is being considered. Deputy Reeve Frank Cook added, "It's going to be wide open this year and they probably like the property behind the church because it's rikht downtown and close to the post office." The following building permits were For Your approved: Harold White Homes, semi- detached dwelling, $45,000; Harold White Homes, semi-detached dwelling, $45,000; Bruce Allen and R. Green, demolishing building; John Meade, house addition, $15,000; Bryan Lavis, new office front, $2,000; W. J. Staut- tener, repairs outside, $1,200. Under the topic of protection to per- sons and property, Councillor Frank Van Altena reported that five lights have been destroyed in town from pellet guns. "I would like people to watch out for these children or people with pellet guns. If you need any help call me or the police," he offered. the average $23,200. Board chairman John Elliott refused to comment on the agreement because of the news blackout imposed by Ladd. Elliott said he would comment on the pact after a teacher ratification vote Wednesday night claiming the board wanted to make no comment on the settlement until the teachers had decided if they would accept the con- tract. �IIIIIIIl111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111IIIIIIIIIIII111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111tiiIIIIIIIIIIIII1111111111111111111111111111111Illllllilllllll111111111111111111illllitlllllllllltllllllll� teachers salary in Huron to The atoms players received top trophies at the minor hockey banquet held in Clinton on Sunday night. Winning trophies were, front row, left to right: Steven Preszcator, 9, most valuable player; Robert Dupee, 10, most valuable player; Troy Falconer, 9, most valuable player; Jerry Pickett, 10, most improved player; Bobby Ladd, 10, most sportsmanlike; Paul Hubert, 10, most improved. Back row, Shane Carter, 10, most improved; Beecher Manzies, 10, most sportsmanlike; Danny Horton, 11, most valuable; Mike Powell, 11, most sportsmanlike; Frank Schloendorf, 10, most valuable; Peter Clynick, 9, most valuable. (News - Record photo) Tuckersmith to study water system The question of the Egmondville water system has again reared its head at Tuckersmith Council. Council members approved a motion asking John McLachlan, township clerk and Allan Nicholson, roads superintendent and a resident of Egmondville, to start in- vestigating what would be involved in upgrading the village's water system. At present, residents in the village purchase their water from a variety of sources including two township wells, from private wells and some 17 home owners buy their water from the town of Seaforth. Council members decided if they didn't investigate the water system now, it will become a problem for future councils. One concern is if more homeowners purchased water from the township wells, then the system would be overloaded and there wouldn't be adequate water pressure at all times. Another concern is the fact the system doesn't have a proper shut-off system in the event of burst pipes. The members of council all agreed the system was due for upgrading. Although the Egmondville water system has been discussed by council in the past, the question came up again when Albert Price, an Egmondville resident, presented initial plans for a subdivision he plans to build in the village. Council approved an ap- plication to sever an area of the David Brock farm, RR 2, Kippen to be operated as a gravel pit by the Reid brothers, of Hensall. Under the provincial Pits and Quarries Act, which hasn't been enforced in Huron County to date, gravel pit operators must deposit two cents per ton of aggregate removed from the pit into a fund for future rehabilitation of the pit. When the operator com- pletes pit rehabilitation satisfactorily, the money in the fund is returned to him. Although the Pits and Quarries Act hasn't been enforced in Huron County to date, the provincial gover- nment is expected to amend the act to cover the whole province within the next two years. Although other pit operators in Tuckersmith township- haven't been required to deposit money into a rehabilitation fund in the past, council passed a motion asking the Reid brothers to deposit $1,000 before working the pit. Council members decided to charge the pit operators $500 for each acre of gravel removed, and the initial deposit will cover the first two acres of aggregate taken from the site. On Sept. 1 of each year, council will determine how much additional aggregate has been removed from the pit and ask the Reid brothers to deposit funds accordingly. The township does not benefit from this deposit, since the funds are returned to the pit operators when they have finished removing aggregate and have rehabilitated the site. Allan Nicholson, township roads superintendent, told council that many smaller municipalities blame the new rehabilitation regulations in the Pits and Quarries Art for driving up the price of gravel. In other business, Martin Heynsbergen, RR 4, Seaforth was issued a building permit for a barn and Peter Swinkels, RR 4, Seaforth, was granted a building permit for a driving shed. Council also approved a $5,600 tile drainage loan to Peter Colyer, RR 2, Kippen. Clark McLachlan advised council the water in Vanastra would he shut off on Monday, April 10 from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. He also told council Her- man van Wieren, township building inspector, was at- tending a building inspectors' seminar on municipal law in Kingston for the week. Shirley Weary, spokesman for Branch = _ 45 of the Ontario Secondary School = it-) •uc t e middle: lists reference book, mankind has a y alwaysbeenandrthisbook quite interesting and often informative. You see I'm an the worst usually find my notes crumpled up in a back corner or wedged amongst some other papers in my desk. Hmmmm, here's a list of the people I was going to inviteto my party, which never had. Steak, sour cream, noodles, mushrooms - it looks like I was going to make beef stroganoff but Iprobablyended up withHamburger Helper. Oops, here's the bills I haven't paid yet - think I'll just putthatone backwhere found it. Oh boy, here's my self improvement list. I always write those when miserable - might as well toss it in thegarbage now. Somehow, sooner or later, mynotes and lists usually become meaningless anduseless. I write them in good faith, toput mythoughts in order andto remember little tidbits of information, but ... Now I'm discoveringnew about lists particular, but those in a fascinating best seller, the Book ofLists. Teacher's Federation said Monday she N. F. was "satisfied with the contract but that = __ she was not "leaping up and down ' = by Shelley McPhee According to this unusual b k k' d = delirious with joy =_ The weekly task of cleaning out my desk is usually 11 an established listmake – Weary said she felt the best deal = surely proves it For instance it lists 10 possible had been made for the teachers. E. avid list keeper and also a list loser, but sooner or later I g and Bing = She said she felt it was a "fair resolution _ Crosby's of the problems". _ _ Weary said she hoped the teachers and a ppened in the the trustees will begin immediatly to = t h' h I y oo _- rebuild that mutual trust that was = the _ "kicked about so much". She said she = diets 10 nassis – felt no..one had won or lost in the strike _ H b H 1 pointing out that both sides could claim N. P P es victory or say nothing and allow the = h I than 500 calories. to think they had won. < <� _ "It doesn't matter who won what t h I'rn` bl g weighed or a 10 doctors h they is that we're going to have = h d a= -- matters education again," she said. = some – A board spokesman who wished to = 1 morbid remain nameless said what was im- = g seem a portant now was to get the schools open = b and operating as "normal as possible". = on The spokesman said an effort should be not mine in ay want made to avoid anything that "smacks of N. = a backlash of the strike". sounding words in the English language favorite performers of all time. How about the 15 famous events that ha bathtub. Don't think I'II ever write a list like that or 23 of thr busiest lovers in history, I'll scrapthat one t There's Vincent Price's favorite dinner guestsand offamous people. To stayslim Jackie O style, try a baked potato, split and heaped with fresh caviar. Along with a glass of champagne,that' lessh s. How about the list of 18 famous brains and whath listofoc ors w o triedto get away with murder. The Book of Lists is packed full of information, tragic, some mor i and some humorous. After reading this book, mycollection of lists little ordinary and really quite boringbut I'll keep writing them. Who knows, somedaysomeone m to know Shelley McPhee's fist of stroganoff ingredients. .Fill11111111118111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111?r! Make sure your child is immunized against disease. This is what Ontario is doing to help you. YOUR WRECK AT CLERE-VU $POT CASH FOR WRECKS Over 25`%% of our children have doctor for administering them. not been immunized by the time they Immunization can'savc lives and enter school. That's not only is quick and easy. surprising, it's dangerous — because It's up to you — to mike sure that there has been an increase of your children are protected. Take them diphtheria, whooping cough and to your family physician now, or have measles in recent months. them immunized by your lo(al The Ontario Ministry of Health health unit. provides vaccines to immunize A free pamphlet with a chart children against diphtheria, polio, showing which diseases your child whooping cough, tetanus, measles, should he immunized against, and at mumps and rubella (German measles). what ages, is available now. Your Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) pays a fee to the PARTS FARM PASSENGER—COMMERCIAL FOR LATE -MODEL CARS & TRUCKS BOTH REBUILT AND USED INSTALLATION SERVICE BY LICENSED MECHANICS 482-3211 TIRES BY ROAD KING, B.F. GOODRICH, GOODYEAR RADIALS - BELTED - POLYESTER PLY At Spring Sala Prices ��it CLERE - VU AUTO WRECKERS Write today for your copy of the pamphlet "Immunization is Your Responsibility" to: Health Resource Centre Communications Branch Ontario Ministry of Health Hepburn Block, Queen's Park Toronto, Ontario M7A 1S2 ,. Highway 8, 3 miles west of Clinton Dennis Timbrell, Minister of Health William Davis, Premier Province of Ontario