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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1987-07-02, Page 1................... .. I�(:ORPOR.ATI' (s -THF: !MATH SI'AND-iiFil)-TtiF. Illi 1:111.1) til (,1.F: NO. 26 THURSDAY, JULY 2, 1987 50 CENTS 1krNy'.%0.Y`vro v:l!;:a .'4Sii15' DECORATION E Rev. Gregory Gilson led the service when the members of the Clin. Lei4 ton Legion Branch 140 met at the Clinton Cemetery for the awing, 'Mae.aa NEW PROJECT MORE THAN EXPECTED CPH wing over CLINTON - Hospital board members here were reportedly "shocked and discourag- ed" to learn that construction costs for the new obstetrical wing will reach over the $1 million mark. Clinton Public Hospital (CPH) Ad- ministrator Dan Steyn said that board members were surprised to learn of the high tender prices when bids were opened on June 25 at a special meeting. Board members were extremely shocked at the high prices received as they had not anticipated anything nearly as high. Originally estimated to cost in the neighborhood of $850,000, the plans for the new addition to the hospital will now be over $1 million. . The lowest tender of $1,125,000 was receiv- ed from D. Grant, Lambeth out of four bids submitted. The highest tender came in at $1,173,150. The other contractors submitting bids were Nith Valley Construction, Melloul- Blamey Construction and Van Bussel Construction. After some discussion with the architect, board members agreed to whittle down the tender price by trimming some of the con- struction plans. Some work will be done by CPH staff, other work will be finished at a later date. Some equipment installations will be postponed. By tayloring the specifications, some $70,000 has been cut out of the project. The contract was reduced to approximately $1,055,000 and the board agreed to accepted the lowest tender from D. Grant Construction. Mr. Steyn said that the changes in the con- struction plans would not sub -standardize the building. Some delays in equipment installation, such as putting in vacuum pumps, will be put on hold. Mr. Steyn noted, "We can tap into existing system, but it will be b rli e. We'll be taxing it." IIr, Ir 1 -million He trr pahsized, "We won't sub - standardize this addition because it won't pay in the end. We'll put together a good building that will last." The last major building project at CPH took place five years ago. That project cost some $89 per square foot to complete. The new building project will cost some $160 per square foot. Inflation and a "construction boom" have been cited among the reasons for the major price increases in the current building pro- ject, according to Mr. Steyn. An official press release from the board reads, "The board regrets the need to in- crease the goal since no additional funds will be coming from either the Ministry of Health or the County of Huron.' The an- ticipated higher price is the total burden of the board and must be raised through the fund raising process. The board has set a new goal of $550,000 to be reached to ensure that the necessary funds are available when the project comes to completion." The fund raising canvass now stands close to $400,000 - the original goal set for the effort. The Ministry of Health is also putting some $400,000 towards the project. When original estimates were calculated this represented 50 per cent of the costs. The figure now stands in the neighborhood of 40 per cent. CPH representatives had previously asked the health ministry for ad- ditional funding of up to two-thirds, put were turned down. The hospital request is now on a waiting list for further consideration by the government. Construction on the new obstetrical wing is expected to begin in late August or early September. The board must submit the necessary documents to the Ministry of Health for approval before construction work can begin. Stanley taxes are up STANLEY TWP. - The 1987 budget here shows an increase of slightly more than $60,000 compared to last year's, and allows for a surplus of $114. The increase will add 6.1 mills to the tax bill of the average public school supporter ratepayer. A large portion of the municipal increase is capital expenditure on roads. Clerk Mel Graham gave as one example the 35 per cent increase in the cost of hauling and crushing gravel. Accumulated net revenue at the end of the year is estimated at $1,877,814 with ex- pected expenditures of $1,878,027. The county levy is $192,229, with a requisition of $330,111 for elementary education, Program offers learning with a di By Shelley McPhee Haist CLINTON - It's July - the glorious season of summer. School's out and vacation time is here. High school students have packed away their books in favor of summer jobs and summer fun. Public school students have recently held graduation ceremonies and now summer freedom is theirs. Then there is another group of students. They don't mind spending a summer in a classroom. They relish the thoughts of lear- ning, of homework, of spending a classroom day with the teacher. These are students with a difference. They are not typical of the average school - aged youth who reluctantly goes to school and lives for summer vacation. These students like school. These students like their teacher and they like to learn. It wasn't always so for this assorted group of men and women. For various reasons they did not complete their formal educa- tional training. Today however, they are back in the classroom working to achieve both scholastic and personal success. These 16 men and women are known as "mature students" and they are taking a new program called Adult Academic Upgrading and Employment Preparation. New to the Huron County education system this year, the program was established as part of a joint effort between the Huron County Board of Education, ( HCBE) Conestoga College, Canada Man- power and Central Huron Secondary School (CRSS) in Clinton. The HCBE administration was approach- ed to consider the feasibility of offering an adult education and employment prepara- tion program of clients of the Canada Employment and Immigration Centre. The request was made as the result of the ter- mination of a similar program at the Vanastra campus of Conestoga College. As a result, a new program was establish- ed that saw a new educational service of- fered to approximately 15 adult students at no cost to the taxpayer. CHSS was chosen as the site of the program because of its central location in the county. Qf the new adult education upgrading pro- gram, HCBE director Bob Allan said, "It's an important community service to offer. It is funded entirely by Employment Canada and no local cost is attached to this." Joe Wooden, principal at CHSS said that implementation of the program began in September after several months of negotia- tions with the three concerned parties. The program is being utilized by 15 students and there are some 10 more people on a waiting list for enrolment. "I'm really impressed with the program. We can expand if there is a demand," Mr. Wooden said. One full time and two part-time instruc- tors have helped develop and co-ordinate the program. Lynda Lentz, Ludi Weber and Sheila Mullin have been hired to teach sub- jects ranging from computer and math courses to English and life skills. It may be summer. It may be vacation time for students and teachers, but this dedicated and determined group is still in school. Marg Medd of Blyth, Lorraine Fraser of Clinton and Alec MacLen- nan of RR 3 Goderich are among the students who are taking part in the Adult Academic Upgrading and Job Preparation course. The A unique relationship has been carefully developed and nutured between the staff and the students. Deliberate efforts are made to avoid the traditional classroom limitations in this unique learning program. Attempts are made to avoid any teacher - student barriers. "We're all folks," Lynda Lentz says. "We try to avoid classroom hierachy." "This differs from the regular high school program because of its lack of structure. The teacher is to be a friend and a source of knowledge." Despite the absence of traditional classroom structure, learning is still the primary and most valued service offered in this program. Students keep daily journals which are shared with the instructors. One student wrote, "I am still learning how to learn." It is in talking with this unique group of students that the real success of the Adult Education Upgrading program is evidenced. The men and women who are taking part in this program come from various walks of erence new program is a joint effort between the Huron County Board of Education, Canada Manpower and Conestoga College. Lynda Lentz (standing) is one of the three instructors involved in this program which is held at CHSS in Clinton. (Shelley McPhee Haist photo) life. They vary in ages and in lifestyles. They are all seeking various aims, various career and personal goals. They have come to this school with various learning needs Each student has had courses designed for their personal needs. Most study English and Mathematics, ranging from Grade 9 basic to Grade 12 advanced. They are keen and determined to make the grade. Pat, a grandmother, is hoping to find work in banking or with computers. She has been out of school for 29 years, but says, "I love it here. You need a good education to get work. You can't get by in this day and age with Grade 8 education. I needed a Grade 12 diploma and I have lots of time on my hands to come back to 'school" Alec a young farmer is looking at further- ing his education in order that he may look at work advancements. He hopes to appren- tice in some line of work. Ron has always wanted to be a police man. This time he's seriously working towards that aim. 'I've made up my mind that I'm going to succeed. In another three or four years I'm going to be pushing a beat." Sylvia is working towards a Grade 12 diploma. She hopes to be a heavy equipment operator. "I used to be a teacher's volunteer. I couldn't answer questions that the Grade 2. and 3 pupils asked. Now 1 can." Darlene quit high school because she found it "so boring." She tried taking cor- respondence courses, but found it difficult to discipline herself to do the work. Darlene says she made,the right move by returning to school on a full-time basis. She says, "I felt right at home here. I went to this high school before ... This is much bet- ter than a $3.85 waitressing job." Joe wants to complete his Grade 12 educa- tion and "take it from there." Marg is a mother of four. She aims to be a secretary. "The kids and I do our homework together," she says. Turn to page 3 $234,352 for secondary for public school supporters, and the separate school levy is $44,408 for elementary schools and a fur- ther $34,377 for separate secondary education. The 1987 residential and farm rate for public school supporters will be 321.21 mills. The comparable rate for separate school supporters will be 324.77 mills, a 7.4 per cent increase because of additional funding of secondary school education. The commercial and business rate for public school supporters will be 377.88, and separate school supporters will pay 382.10 mills on their assessments. Turn to page 2 CLINTON PUBLIC HOSPITAL BUILDING FUND z O 2 at w 0