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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-02-18, Page 11Wednesday, February 18, 2004 Exeter Times -Advocate 11 Principal shortage looming By Stew Slater SPECIAL TO TI IE TIMES -ADVOCATE SEAFORTH — "Within the next five years, approximately 25 principals and vice -principals will be eligible for retire- ment which, given our current shortage of qualified applicants, will create a very significant problem." That's the wording — written by Avon Maitland District School Board human resources superintendent Jim Sheppard — contained within a report delivered to trustees at a meeting Feb. 10. The report described what Sheppard hopes to do to prevent such a principal shortage from developing. New principals and vice -principals are chosen from a pool of applicants who have agreed to work for a particular school board and who have achieved or are in the process of achieving Ontario's educational requirements for those posi- tions. Examples of requirements include a certain level of teaching experience, Masters -level courses, and the comple- tion of a Principals' Qualification Program that includes practical work as well as topics like education law, labour relations and curriculum development. Sheppard told trustees his plan for attracting more applicants to the Avon Maitland principal and vice-principal hiring pools is "designed to assist teach- ers interested in leadership roles to obtain their qualifications." By March 31, he hopes to attract at least 20 appli- cants, which is the minimum needed for the Ontario Principals' Council to put its show on the road, and bring a Principals' Qualification Program to the Huron -Perth area. "I'm hoping, by the fall, that I can come back to you and say, we have a good group who are willing to take the orientation," he told trustees. The first element of the plan is to invite all teachers to one of three information sessions during February — in Stratford, Goderich and Listowel. At these meet- ings, there will be an opportunity "to learn about the board's proposal to have the Principals' Qualification Program provided locally and be funded by the board." Sheppard admitted he faces a chal- lenge, noting similar problems are loom- ing across Ontario. "We are not the only board that's deal- ing with this shortage." South Huron Midget Adam Johns checks his man during quarter -final action against Harrow Feb. 15 at the South Huron Rec Centre. South Huron won the series 3-0 with a 4-0 win and will play the winner of Durham vs Tavistock in the OMHA semifinal. (photo/ScottNixon) Huron OPP investigate 21 crashes HURON COUNTY — From approxi- mately 9 a.m to 9 p.m. Feb. 13 Huron OPP officers investigated 21 crashes that took place across the county. Some of the crashes were single vehi- cle while others involved four to seven vehicles. Many vehicles entered the ditch but received no damage. Five people were injured and taken to hospital where they were treated for minor injuries and released. According to police, many of these crashes could have been avoided if peo- ple slowed down. Road conditions were icy to snow covered with some drifts of snow across one lane. High winds picked up some snow in the fields and carried it across the roads at eye level restricting visibility. Lucan woman wins three gold medals LUCAN — A 20 -year-old Lucan woman who attends Ridgetown college has three gold medals to her credit following her partici- pation in the Ontario Provincial Agricultural Winter Games in Ottawa at the end of January. Susan Acres won her medals in ladies bad- minton, doubles badminton and indoor soccer. Her mother, Donna, told the Times -Advocate Susan has persevered in her sports endeavours despite having been diagnosed with diabetes at the age of seven. "It makes it tough for her but she has never let it stop her," Donna said. Susan is studying to be a veterinary technician at Ridgetown college. Susan Acres recently participated in Provincial Agricultural Colleges Winter Games, receiving gold medals in ladies singles badminton, doubles badminton and indoor soccer. (photo/Mary Simmons) the Ontario Hurricanes at Oakville swim meet OAKVILLE — The Huron Hurricanes Aquatic Club attended their last meet of the short course swim sea- son at Oakville Jan. 16. At this meet the Hurricanes were the lit- tle team with the big heart with five swim- mers representing Huron County. The meet had 3126 entrants from swim clubs in Etobicoke, Hamilton, Mississauga, Guelph, Pickering, Orangeville and the host team Oakville Aquatic Club. The swimmers, Nathanya and Aidan Barnett, Danielle Heinbuch, Rebecca Melady and Emily Walraven, performed at a competitive level with all of the swimmers achieving personal best times in most of their events. Coach Julia Pettapiece provided steady coach- ing, supporting the swimmers in a fast paced, busy swim meet. Emily Walraven, and Rebecca Melady attend- ed from the Clinton area. Walraven had an amazing day with a time of 1:33 in the 100 metre freestyle for 11 and 12 years olds. She swam a fast 50 metre backstroke in 44: 69 seconds and sprinted the 50 metre breast- stroke in less than a minute, 55: 53 seconds. Rebecca Melady, swimming in the 13 and 14 old category, achieved personal best times in all of her events. In the 200 meter back- stroke she cut 23 sec- onds off her seed time, finishing the race in 3:10.75 minutes. In the 100 metre freestyle Melady had a competitive time of 1:16.24. Melady swam her final event, the 100 metre butterfly, in 1:33.78 for a satisfying close to a fast, well organized swim meet. From the Goderich area, Nathanya Barnett, at nine years old the youngest Hurricane attending this event, earned her personal best time in the 50 meter Breaststroke. She swam her 100 metre freestyle in 2:07.55 and completed the 50 metre backstroke in 1:05.39. Congratulations, Nathanya. Danni Heinbuch con- tinues to have a strong season with competitive times for girls 11 and 12. Heinbuch shaved time off seed time in the 100 freestyle event with a fast 1:20.30. She swam the longer 200 backstroke in a per- sonal best time of 3 min- utes 29 seconds and in her final event, the 200 breaststroke, Heinbuch earned another personal best time finishing in 3:45.96 minutes. Aiden Barnett of Goderich earned excel- lent times in the 100 metre butterfly shaving five seconds off to com- plete this challenging swim in 1:21.27 min- utes. Barnett has developed her 800 metre freestyle event and finished with a personal best time of 11:14.83. On Saturday, Barnett's first swim was the 100 metre freestyle where she finished with a fast 1:09.82. In another challenging event, the 400 metre freestyle, Barnett fin- ished with a competitive 5:27.99. The Huron Hurricanes and their coach Julia Pettapiece can be very proud of the hard work and training that has produced their achieve- ments.(article submit- ted) Move towards mandatory source protection planning AUSABLE BAYFIELD — Conservation authorities are encouraged by the govern- ment's move to make source protection planning manda- tory in watersheds through- out the province. "The White Paper on Watershed -Based Source Protection Planning released by the province outlines a detailed approach to getting source protection plans underway in a timely man- ner," said Peter Krause, Chair of Conservation Ontario. "Conservation Authorities are committed to working together with other stake- holders in protecting our local sources of drinking water on a watershed basis," stated Bob Norris, Chair of Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA). A series of meetings will be held around the province to consult on the White Paper with regional and local source -protection stakehold- ers and experts. "The ABCA has been invited to attend a consultation ses- sion on March 1 in London to discuss with the Ministry of the Environment the recently released report," said Tom Prout, ABCA General Manager. In a provincial government news release, Environment Minister Leona Dombrowsky restated that in his Walkerton reports, Justice Dennis O'Connor identified source protection as the missing element in ensuring Ontario's water is safe from source to tap. Conservation Ontario par- ticipates in two of the province's source water pro- tection committees: the Implementation Committee and the Technical Expert Committee. Both will provide advice to the government on tools and approaches to implement watershed -based source protection planning. Conservation Ontario repre- sents 36 conservation authorities across the province which are responsi- ble for managing water resources on a watershed basis.