The Times Advocate, 2005-07-20, Page 13Wednesday,July 20, 2005
Exeter Times -Advocate
13
Changes 111 administration Kirkton lifeguards on duty everyday
By Stew Slater
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES -ADVOCATE
SEAFORTH — Though the circum-
stances surrounding their appointments
are different, new superintendents of
education will be in place in September
for both the Avon Maitland District
School Board and the Huron -Perth
Catholic District School Board.
In the Avon Maitland board, current
superintendent (Operations) Barry
Wagner is returning to the London-based
Thames Valley District School Board to
accept a superintendents position there.
Wagner came to Seaforth two years ago
from a position of lesser seniority hi the
Thames Valley board.
"The search is already on," to find a
replacement for Wagner, said Avon
Maitland communications manager Steve
Howe. Trustees accepted the outgoing
superintendent's resignation at their
meeting June 28, and chair Meg Westley
noted the potential of a special meeting
some time over the summer to approve
his replacement.
In Dublin, desks will be moving over the
summer in the administrative offices of
the Huron -Perth Catholic board to make
way for an additional person in the top-
level management team. At a regular
meeting June 27, trustees approved the
appointment of former Stratford St.
Michael principal Dan Parr as superin-
tendent of education with responsibility
for secondary schools.
Parr left the principal's job more than a
year ago to take control of the board's
share of a special provincial funding pro-
gram then labelled "Students at Risk." It
has since been renamed "Student
Success."
At a meeting earlier in June, he assisted
in a presentation about one of the key
programs created under that initiative:
an off-site storefront satellite of St.
Michael in downtown Stratford, serving
either drop -outs or potential drop -outs
who have trouble achieving in a regular
school environment.
"He's certainly a well-qualified individ-
ual," said Murray, who noted the board
was required to advertise the new super-
intendent position, and was quite happy
when Parr applied. "He's done a fine job
with that alternative education program
and with the whole Student Success ini-
tiative."
School board approves policy
By Stew Slater
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES -ADVOCATE
SEAFORTH — A public delegation pre-
sented by a student, a supply teacher and
a teacher/librarian has inspired the Avon
Maitland District School Board to create a
policy about waste management and
environmental sensitivity.
In the fall of 2005, senior staff will try to
turn that policy into workable procedures
that can be applied consistently through-
out the board.
In February, the three-person delega-
tion informed trustees that a portion of
the board's staff and student population
is concerned about issues like recycling
and the fact environmental awareness
could be included in various parts of the
provincial curriculum. At that meeting,
trustees referred the matter to the Policy
Committee.
On June 28, committee chair Jenny
Versteeg sought approval for a new
board policy, one she suggested "goes
beyond what (the delegation) was
expecting."
It requires the board to "adopt a leader-
ship role" in several ways, including
"developing ecologically sound purchas-
ing practices", "reducing the use of toxic
substances", "promoting the retention
and development of natural landscaping
and habitats on board property", and
"placing environmental literacy into the
content and methodology of instructional
programs hi all divisions."
Implementation is left up to the director
of education.
Asked by a trustee how that will hap-
pen, Avon Maitland boss Geoff Williams
did what a good director of education
should do: he delegated. He said superin-
tendents Pat Stanley and Janet Baird -
Jackson will begin in the fall to devise
appropriate board -wide procedures in
keeping with the new policy.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting,
Stanley explained she recently attended
a conference at Toronto's York University
entitled "Ecoschools," along with the
teacher/librarian who led the delegation
to the board in February. Stanley praised
conference organizers for presenting a
wide range of workable approaches, and
said the board hopes to be able to gather
teachers and staff for professional devel-
opment sessions geared particularly
towards environmental awareness.
Board waits to approve budget
By Stew Slater
SPECIAL TO THE T -A
DUBLIN — Liberties
were taken with a so-
called "deadline" of the
provincial Education
Ministry when the Avon
Maitland District School
Board signed a later -
than -last-minute contract
with its elementary teach-
ers earlier this month.
And now the Huron -
Perth Catholic District
School Board is doing the
same with its budget.
For several years, the
deadline for filing a bal-
anced school board bud-
get has been early July,
and both the Huron -Perth
and Avon Maitland
boards have complied;
this year, the deadline is
supposed to be July 15.
But according to Huron -
Perth business superin-
tendent Gerry Thuss,
"there's no penalty if
boards file by Aug. 30."
So, given that Catholic
trustees traditionally
meet in the last week of
August (unlike their Avon
Maitland counterparts,
who wait until early
September), that's what
Thuss will do.
"During July and
August, administration
will be working on the
revenue and expenditures
and will be presenting a
budget report at the Aug.
29 board meeting for
approval," states a
report, delivered by
Thuss to trustees at the
board's final 2004-05
meeting June 27.
The move didn't come
without reason, Thuss
explained.
"The Ministry (educa-
tion grant) forms just hit
the website Friday after-
noon," he said in an
interview, adding the
same information has
previously been available
by late April.
This year, before June
24, the only thing boards
had were what Thuss
called "draft templates,"
which could be used for
estimating total revenues
but weren't considered
entirely accurate.
Thuss held back from
criticizing the Education
Ministry, saying instead
that the government's
focus all spring had been
creating a funding
"framework" which
would allow boards to
sign long-term contracts
with their teachers.
And that eventually
happened.
Ontario
Scholars
EXETER — In last
week's edition of the
Times -Advocate on South
Huron District High
School Ontario Scholars,
Darren Love was omitted
from the list.
SHDHS apologizes for
the omission.
Four lifeguards are keeping swimmers safe this summer at the public pool in
Kirkton. From far left: Laura Switzer (head life guard), Erin Robinson (assistant),
BaileyVan Praet, Jenna Thomson and Mike Weersink. The pool is open daily for
public swimming 2-4 p.m. and 6:30-8 p.m. Adult swimming is also available Mon.,
Wed. and Fri. 6-6:30 p.m. The cost is $2 for adults and $1.50 for kids. (photo/
Stephanie Mandziuk)
POLICE BRIEFS
Double
trouble in
Exeter
SOUTH HURON — On
July 12 two thefts were
reported to police. An offi-
cer learned someone had
left a dark blue 15 speed
CCM Tourismo mountain
bike leaning up against a
store on Main Street in
Exeter. Sometime between
12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. a
person walked off with the
bike.
Later, a person living on
St. Lawrence Ave. in South
Huron reported someone
had stepped onto their
lawn and removed a 2005
Sunrise 8 four -man
blue/gray Dome tent.
Gazebo
stolen
BLUEWATER — A boxed
gazebo was removed from
Rona Cashway on Blind
Line in Bluewater, on or
before July 8. The item is
valued at $1,000. If you
can help solve this case call
the OPP or Crimestoppers.
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