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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-11-23, Page 9DY JEFF SEDDON The guron County Board'of Education may qttempt to squeeze a few More miles out of, board •owned school buses to alleviate financial ON 4 mm GODERICH SIONAL,STAR, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 197i -FAG e .thileage may mean. more money its final session Monday night the practice of automatically reneWing six board owned buses every year may be un- necessary pointing Out that some of the money pressures that are cramping the board's capital expenditures and equipment replacement programs. Board chairman John Elliott told the board at spent on new vehicles approve a five year could be funnelled into capital expense forecast. other areas. Cochrane explained to The suggestion was the board that the five made when the board was year program is required asked by John Cochrane, by the ministry of director of education, to education for Ontario to permit the province to set down a provincial spending forecast. The director said the province has met the reituiretnents of the, Huron board with the exception of one major area, additional home economics and industrial arts facilities in elementary schools. Cochrane told the board that considering the ministry's record of ignoring Huron county's request for funds to establish industrial arts and home ec centres at Turnberry, Hullett and Exeter Public Schools the board could consider not asking any more. Cochrane said the futility of the request indicated that perhaps the board should just ask for money for the continuance of replacing six school board owned buses each year. The. bus replacing practice is done due to ministry guidelines that totally 'depreciate school buses over seven years. Elliott suggested that the board's habit of replacing six buses a year may not be necessary. The chairman said some of the buses replaced may be worthy of more mileage and that the. board could attempt to keep the vehicles on the road using the money saved to establish the home economic - Four new members were initiated into the Beta Theta Sorority at a special Pledge Ritual held on Tuesday evening. Left to right, they are Rosemary Corriveau, Sheila Stanley, Ivy Fisher and Irene Dixon. Absent for photo is Catherine Poutney who has transfereed to the Stratford sorority. (Photo by Joanne Buchanan) industrialarts back in service. He claSSrOOMS. suggested that the board Brussels trustee consider the policy before Donald McDonald noted it automatically agreed that it may not be to it. possible for the board to Seaforth trustee John transfer that _capital as Henderson felt that a easily as that. He said the delay could put the board ministry might simply keep the money itself and in a financial dilemma it faces in other areas. give the Huron board only Hendersonsaid if the . enough for five buses. board "lays off a year or Wingham trustee Jack two it may be facing the Alexkider said it ap- bpeuasreesd as though the six due for replacement were "let go" by the .board's transportation depart- ment so that by the time they are due to be taken off the road they are "shot". Alexander suggested that by taking better care of the vehicles the board may get more mileage from them. Elliott said that some of the buses may indeed be scrap but felt sure some should not be replaced. He said there may be four buses due for replacement and two that could be kept on the job, saving the board the cost of two new vehicles. He said in the past two years 'three of the buses the ' board has replaced have been put back into ser- vice by bus contractors. The board tenders for the sale of the vehicles, a contractor buys them and keeps them on the road to transport students under a contract with the board. owned buses. The budget The chairman said two committee hopes to sit years ago two of the six down with transportation thises the board sold were manager to review the put back on the road by' practice of automatically" contractors and this year replacing six buses a one of the buses was put year. same problem it has in replacing equipment in technical classrooms in the county high schools". He said the board could not afford to "keep up to the situation to avoid facing large expenditure it can't handle". Wingham trustee Murray Mulvey suggested undercoating the new buses to get more mileage out off them. He said rust seems to be a problem the buses are victimized by pointing out that in many cases the vehicles "rust out before they wear out". Mulvey said the board could consider getting the buses rust proofed when they are new. The board agreed to drop the provision of industrial arts -home economics classrooms from its five year capital expense forecast and make provision for the replacement of six board Town. Cotincil Brief Reeve Bill ClUforcl wasn't at all pleased with a letter from the Treasurer of Ontario., Frank S. Miller. Miller wrote: "While I appreciate your council's obvious concern over the postponement of tax reform, I must point out that there are serious problems associated with the im- plementation of market value assessment without reform." "Where such an approach has been taken, 'Substantial shifts in tax burden have ocaired from the commercial to'the residential sector," explained Miller in his letter. "I do not view -this as a viable alternative to the present system. Accordingly, I am unable to comply with your council's request." Reeve Clifford said town council was well aware that tax reform must go hand in hand with market value assessment. 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