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Home My WebLink AboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-07-07, Page 3Wednesday, July 7, 2004 Exeter Times–Advocate 3 Class -size reduction phased in at nine schools By Stew Slater SPECIAL TO THE T -A SEAFORTH — Additional staff will be in place at nine Avon Maitland District School Board elementary sites for the 2004-05 school year as the board starts implementing a govern- ment -mandated decrease in the average size of Primary -level classes. Administrative staff presented the board's "Primary Class Size Reduction Plan" for 2004-05, at the fmal reg- ular meeting of the sea- son June 22. On the list for additional staff are schools in Crediton, Clinton, Ethel, St. Marys, Shakespeare and Mitchell, along with three sites in Stratford. A goal of 20 students per classroom from Kindergarten to Grade 3 was established as an election promise during last fall's provincial cam- paign, and later institut- ed by the ruling Liberals on a phase-in basis. For 2004-05, the Avon Maitland board received just over $760,000, to be used specifically for hir- ing teachers, acquiring supplies and providing classroom space. "What we think (Education Ministry offi- cials) want to know is, A: that we have a plan; and B: when we report back, that there's an actual reduction of class size. And we think this will achieve that," said direc- tor of education Geoff Williams. One full-time teaching position in the Grade 1-3 range will be added to the staffing compliments at Clinton Public School, Grey Central Public School, Stephen Central Public School, and Stratford's Anne Hathaway and Avon ele- mentary schools. During 2003-04, average Primary class sizes at Avon, Grey Central and Stephen Central were either at or only slightly above 20, with the other two schools averaging 23.3 and 24.5. But 2004- 05 projections at those same staffing levels indi- cated all five of those schools would have had averages of between 23.6 and 25 during the coming year. The addition of one teacher is projected to bring those averages down to between 19 and 21.6 for 2004-05. Half-time Kindergarten teachers, meanwhile, will Former Granton resident killed ARKONA — A former Granton resident was killed Saturday in a single - vehicle rollover west of Arkona. Jeffery Pincombe, 26, of London, was a passenger in a car that also killed the driver, 27 -year-old John Bate of Port Hope. Pincombe, an Oxford County police officer, was off duty at the time of the accident. He had been working for the force since 2002. Pincombe's parents and brother are Granton residents. OPP reported Bate had been driving west on Townsend Line when he tried to pass a slow-mov- ing pickup. After hitting the gravel on the shoulder, Bate lost control, skidded across the road and rolled several times across a lawn. The pickup driver didn't stop. Pincombe's funeral was held at the Lucan Community Memorial Centre Tuesday afternoon. Anyone interested in keeping in shape should head out to the pavilion at MacNaughton Park Monday and Wednesday nights from 6-7 p.m. Can -Fit Pro certified instructors ShelleyVan Osch and Beth Sweeney are leading fitness class- es for men, women and students of all fitness levels.A new eight-week session starts July 12. Sweeney and Van Osch's company,Workout For Your Life, also lead classes in Grand Bend. Sweeney said those coming to the Exeter classes so far are a "fabulous group of dedicated fitness enthusiasts." She said there's no limit to class sizes and is hoping to attract more people to the sessions. Sweeney said the classes are lots of fun and a great social outing. Classes are $8/class for adults and $5/class for students. If partners attend, classes are $8 for one and $5 for the other. First timers can attend a class for free to see if they like it, Sweeney said. Pictured in front from left are Roxane Bell, Michelle Reid, Nancy Robinson, Tara Russell and Jenn Glavin; in back from left are Sue and Fred Elder,Anna Marie Cook, Jan Dougall, Ellen Holland and Sweeney. For more information, call 234- 6253. (photo/Scott Nixon) 4% Dr. Geoff Hann '7,77,,,"F 105 MAIN ST., EXETER 235-1535 chiropractor • back/neck/joint pain • workplace injuries • auto accidents • sports injuries • headaches NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS be added at Stratford's Romeo Public School, St. Marys Central Public School, Sprucedale Public School in Shakespeare, and Upper Thames Elementary School in Mitchell. Under previous staffing levels, the aver- age Kindergarten class size at those sites was projected to be between 22.2 and 23.6; the addi- tion of the half-time posi- tion should decrease that number from between 15 and 18.5. According to the staff report, decisions about which schools would ben- efit from the 2004-05 portion of Primary Class Size Reduction phase-in were based on a combi- nation of: larger project- ed size of the 2004-05 Primary classes; lower success levels in provin- cially -standardized tests; greater number of Special Education stu- dents; and the availability of existing classroom space. Under the plan — which must be approved by the Education Ministry before funds are released — additional portable classrooms may be needed at Anne Hathaway and Sprucedale. According to business superintendent Janet Baird -Jackson, scheduling changes may prevent that from hap- pening at the Stratford school, while additional portables are more likely to be installed at the Shakespeare site. Perth East trustee Tina Traschel, responding to a concern from her North Huron counterpart Colleen Schenk about the reintroduction of portable classrooms, said, "I'm not a big fan of portables either, but I know in Sprucedale's case, their getting a portable is going to result in them getting a third Kindergarten class, and they'll be very excited about that." C.W. PRANCE TRUCKING LTD. 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