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The Times Advocate, 2004-05-19, Page 14Crossroads 14 Wednesday, May 19, 2004 Exeter Times Advocate Exeter's Bartlett brings home the hardware By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — Exeter's Stacey Bartlett recently returned home from the national baton cham- pionships with an armload of trophies. The 18 -year-old South Huron District High School student was triumphant in Halifax May 8 at the National Baton Twirling Association's annual national finals. Bartlett competed in marching, modelling, twirling and team events, earning five first place prizes and a second. "It feels exciting," Bartlett said. "I really did- n't think I'd be bringing this much home." This is Bartlett's thirteenth year in baton, and she previ- ously won the Novice Miss Majorette of eastern Canada award at last year's nationals in Halifax. Before this year's events, Bartlett said she was confident going into some of her categories, although she was ner- vous about her solos. There were 120 com- petitors at the event. Bartlett said she likes participating in baton for the social aspect of it. She's also coaching baton and enjoys that as well. She is a member of the St. Marys Starlettes, with whom she travelled to Halifax by train. Bartlett practices once a week with the team and, while she wants to continue participating in baton competi- tions next year, she's not sure if she'll have the time because she'll be taking early child- hood edu- cation at Fanshawe College. She said her family and friends were proud of her recent performance at the nationals in Halifax. Bartlett, who has another competition in a couple of weeks, thanks her teammates and her coaches Sandi Vanderscot and Sue Clarke for their support. "It feels exciting. really didn't think I'd be bringing this much home." - STACEY BARTLETT ON THE SEVERAL TROPHIES SHE RECENTLY WON IN HALIFAX Exeter's Stacey Bartlett recently had a successful trip to Halifax, winning five first place prizes and a second at the National Baton Twirling Associations finals.The 18 -year-old student at South Huron District High School will be attending Fanshawe College next year. (photo/Scott Nixon) Distance education could be threatened by cutbacks By Stew Slater SPECIAL TO THE TIMES -ADVOCATE SEAFORTH — Central Huron trustee Shelley Kaastra asked what may have been an obvious question for more than just herself, after receiving an update about the Avon Maitland District School Boards planning process for the 2004-05 budget. The question: Why is the board's Distance Education program losing money after having been champi- oned by staff for its potential to draw in students — and the funding that comes with them — from far and wide? The answers Kaastra received, during a regular Avon Maitland meeting May 11, hinge largely on the fact the board sacrifices government grants aimed at offsetting declining enrolment by attracting online stu- dents from outside its geographical boundaries. That factor is com- pounded by the Education Ministry's unwillingness to classify students as full-time — and fund them accord- ingly — if they take even one of their full course load online. Avon Maitland administrators could offer no way around the fact the program costs the board, and could be a target for cutbacks as trustees struggle to balance the books. "What we're doing now, as senior staff ... is an analysis of what the benefits of the distance ed. program, as it is currently formatted, are to our students," offered director of education Geoff Williams. In an interview after the meeting, Williams likened the program to the board's spending on transportation, where funding is taken from other areas to subsidize an area which doesn't receive what Avon Maitland officials believe is adequate support from the province. As with the board's perception that a certain level of transportation is crucial for students, trustees may decide the provision of online versions of cer- tain secondary school courses — which may not be available at a par- ticular facility — is something the board can't do without. But he offered no assurance the program would survive in its present format, a format which trustees and staff have celebrated since it began, a couple of years ago, growing into a virtual high school with students from across the world. One poten- tial saviour, the director of educa- tion suggested, may be the explo- ration of expanded revenue streams, such as attracting students in Ontario's corrections institutions. Kaastra's question arose from an update, provided for the May 11 meeting, about the board's budget - making plan. Part of that update highlighted the process of wrapping up the 2003-04 books, including an explanation of the areas in which the board expects to spend more money than the government provid- ed, versus those areas in which underspending is expected. Significant projected over -expendi- tures (compared to government funding) include $236,000 for Special Education, $600,000 for Distance Education, $440,000 in Information Technology, $280,000 for curriculum costs, $1 3 million for principals and vice -principals, $490,000 on school office support, and $890,000 on transportation. "In order to balance the revised estimates, it was necessary to esti- mate to include revenues of $236,000 from the Special Education Reserve, and $686,000 from the Working Reserve," the report notes. Other shortfalls were covered by $5.4 million in so-called "flexibility funding" — additional government funding known previously as the local priorities grant, and available for spending wherever the board sees fit. Areas of underspending — which also freed up funds for other areas — include $430,000 in board administration and almost $1 million in facilities operation and renewal. Asked if the facilities underspend- ing means some buildings are not being adequately maintained or repaired, Williams said that's not the case. "We're not doing some of the things we'd like to do," he admitted, but added all essential work is being done. The director of education added facilities underspending is a common budgetary strategy throughout the province's school boards. The next meeting of the board's finance committee, open to the pub- lic, takes place May 31 at 7 p.m. at the Seaforth board offices. It's expected a final draft of the 2004-05 budget will be presented to trustees June 8 at their 8 p.m. public meeting in Seaforth. A public consultation is tentatively scheduled for the follow- ing day, June 9, with a vote on final approval expected June 22. "The fact remains that we are going to face some difficult choices," chairperson Meg Westley admitted during the May 11 meeting. "It's very unlikely that we'll maintain the status quo."