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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2008-01-30, Page 21Wednesday, January 30, 2008 Times -Advocate 21 Board looks at carpooling By Stew Slater SPECIAL TO THE TIMES -ADVOCATE SEAFORTH — After failing to turn up any examples of Ontario school boards which actively encourage the practice of carpooling among employees, the Avon Maitland District School Board hopes to blaze its own path towards fuel conservation. At a regular board meeting Jan. 22, business super- intendent Janet Baird -Jackson fulfilled requests from the board's Finance Committee and Environment Committee, filing a report about possible financial incentives for those who share rides to work or to out - of -district professional development activities. "Investigation of other boards' practices found that, currently, no other boards are offering a monetary carpooling incentive," the report states. Among Ontario municipalities, meanwhile, there is one exam- ple: the Town of Newmarket offers 1.25 times more for mileage reimbursement for those carpooling to exter- nal business meetings. Canada's tax laws limit the level of such incentives; for each province, Revenue Canada sets a "reasonable rate" for per -kilometre reimbursement, and if an amount greater than that rate is paid, it becomes tax- able. Ontario's "reasonable rate" now sits at 48.5 cents per kilometre. The Avon Maitland rate, which is calculated auto- matically each June based on rates in place among nearby school boards, now sits at 41 cents per kilome- tre, so there would be room for some non-taxable incentive within the Revenue Canada limits. Doug Pratley, the trustee representative on the board's Environment Committee — which also includes teachers, administrators and students — said implementing such an incentive would demonstrate "leadership ... modeling to our students and to others in an effort to cut down on our fossil fuel emissions." According to Baird -Jackson, a further investigation into the Newmarket approach will be undertaken, with a plan to implement an Avon Maitland program begin- ning May 1. The program will be monitored through the remainder of the school year, and changes will be made over the summer if that's deemed necessary. Director of education to retire By Stew Slater SPECIAL TO THE TIMES -ADVOCATE SEAFORTH — In the midst of major accommodation reviews in three separate communities, the Avon Maitland District School Board is in the hunt for a replace- ment for top administrator Geoff Williams The director of education, who was appointed in July 2003, after being brought to the board as a superintendent four years earlier, will retire effective Sept. 30, 2008. At a regular board meeting Jan. 22, trustees agreed to send out a request for proposals from recruit- ing firms interested in assisting in the search for Williams' replace- ment. Chairperson Meg Westley cautioned, however, that the board has not yet decided whether or not it will use the services of such a firm. "The board of trustees is sorry to hear that Mr. Williams is retiring," Westley said in a news release. "Under his leadership, we have maintained a strong focus on improving student achievement and developing positive citizenship qualities in our students." The news release notes that Williams "promised to give (the board) five years in the position and by August he will have fulfilled that commitment." Williams took the Avon Maitland helm immediately after a turbulent few years during which decisions were made to close several schools, including Huron Park's McCurdy Public School and Seaforth District High School. It should be noted that, as a superintendent, he nonetheless played an integral role in helping guide the board through that period. His time as director of education, by contrast, has been relatively calm, largely due to the compara- tive absence of strife between the provincial government and the edu- cation sector. But within the past few months, Williams has led the board into accommodation review processes in Goderich, Mitchell and St. Marys — all of which could lead to major changes like the closure of schools and the relocation of Grades 7 and 8 students into secondary school settings. Asked by reporters about his achievements since 2003, he responded that he would prefer to wait until his work is complete before addressing such questions. Instead, he chose to focus on the work still to come: working through the accommodation reviews, enter- ing into collective bargaining nego- tiations with various employee groups, and completing the board's 2008-09 budget. Westley, however, eagerly spoke of Williams' past achievements, praising the director of education for "transform(ing) the culture of the board to become more open, more collaborative." "He has engaged the community and staff at all levels in discussions and decisions that have had a posi- tive impact on our students and on the quality of education we deliver. He has created open, collaborative working relationships within the board and has built strong partner- ships between the board and the community." A 54 year-old Stratford resident, Williams has spent 31 years in the education sector, ranging from teacher through principal and administrator and serving students in Renfrew County, Alberta and Scarborough before coming to the Avon Maitland board. After the Jan. 22 meeting, he told reporters: "I just felt that it was time." He explained that two or three top-level Avon Maitland superinten- dents are expected to retire within the next few years, and he felt a new director of education would be better -placed to choose a long-term leadership team. Williams said he looks forward to serving with more community groups, as well as canoeing and camping with his family. "It has been a long time since I went canoeing in Killarney in September," he said. Changes to Ontario Education Act By Stew Slater SPECIAL TO THE TIMES -ADVOCATE SEAFORTH — Students expelled from Avon Maitland schools should soon be getting directed to alterna- tive programming close to home, with the impending enforcement of the behaviour, discipline and safe- ty portions of Ontario's Education Act. Changes to the act, passed last year under Bill 212, come into force Feb. 1. They include a delin- eation of the responsibilities of teachers, principals, administra- tors and trustees when it comes to student discipline, suspension and expulsion. At the board level, the revised legislation forced changes to the Avon Maitland District School Board's trustee -led Discipline Committee. In the past, it met rarely to deal only with appeals to student expulsions. But now that committee has sole authority to hand out expulsions, and must also be consulted for all appeals to sus- pensions. Teachers no longer have the authority to hand out suspensions; that's now in the hands of princi- pals alone. At a regular meeting Jan. 22, Avon Maitland trustees approved amend- ments to the board ' s "Appeals and Hearings Regarding Student Matters" policy, which governs the Discipline Committee. Another change is that alterna- tive programming must be provid- ed within the district for suspended and expelled students. Attendance at such programming will, most likely, be a condition of return to school by the student — among conditions which must now be set out by the Discipline Committee. "In the past, there was no requirement for alternative pro- gramming, particularly for stu- dents who were under limited sus- pension, so they could sit home and do nothing for 20 days or 30 days or 40 days," explained board chairperson Meg Westley. "It's a sig- nificant change." According to educa- tion superintendent Ted Doherty, "the changes came with some money from the government to provide some of that alternative programming." As a result, the board has stepped up its partnerships with a variety of community service agencies in Huron and Perth counties, includ- ing the Perth -based Choices for Change, the District Health Units, and the Huron Addictions pro- gram. Food Freedom Day on Feb. 3 CLINTON — This Sunday farmers in Ontario will celebrate their role in providing a service to the con- sumers of Canada with one of the safest and most affordable food supplies in the world. Food Freedom Day, Feb. 3, is the calendar date that Canadians have earned enough money to afford food for the year. This is based on the most recent statistics available from Statistics Canada. Geri Kamenz, OFA President, explains what Food Freedom Day means for Ontario farm families and con- sumers. "Ontario consumers can be confident that from farm gate to the table, the safety, quality and value of Ontario - produced food is second to none." "The Farmer's Share: Compare the Share Update 2006 report reveals that despite ris- ing retail prices, the prices farmers received for their products has not increased signifi- cantly over the past two decades. "Since 1992, the cost of energy, hired labour, machinery, chemicals and taxes has increased anywhere from 10 to 73 per cent. This puts a lot of pressure on farm families." Kamenz says, "In fact, the average cost of food has increased 13 per cent while the increase in the price farmer's receive is just two per cent. That means the prices paid by con- sumers increased six times more than the prices farmer's received." Agreeing with Kamenz, Stephen Thompson, HCFA presi- dent, states, "As Food Freedom Day moves closer to the month of January each year, farmers are reminded of the sacrifices and devotion they have for the industry. Our returns have not increased as much as consumers think. As a service provider for Ontario and Canada, Huron County farmers have worked hard to give the peace of mind consumers deserve at the grocery store." Agriculture in Huron County is also an impor- tant economic sector, creating almost 70 per cent of the workforce, and adding over $2.5 billion per year into the economy. Celebrating Food Freedom Day raises awareness of the contri- butions made by Canadian farmers, and serves as a reminder to Ontarians of the value, safety and quality of Ontario -grown food. Celebrate Shrove Tuesday in Varna By Joan Beierling VARNA CORRESPONDENT VARNA - Lay worship leader Gloria Wilbee led in worship on Sunday in Goshen church. Gloria shared her gift of music once again and played guitar and sang God Of the Mountain. Time for the young at heart was on Daniel and the Lions and Gloria reflected on "The Preacher". Last Sunday $75 was raised for Alzheimer's. Sun., Feb. 3 worship will be in Varna with a chili lunch to follow after the service. Free will donations will go to Mozambique Garden Project. Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper Tues., Feb. 5 for the community at the Varna church. All pro- ceeds will go to the Huntington's Society. Terri Louch is looking for volunteers. Varna UCW Varna UCW meet Thurs., Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Varna church. Special speaker Ellie Brewster, co-ordinator from Healthy Hearts Huron will be speaking. Come on out and listen! Sun., Feb. 10 Varna will have their annual meeting and Sun., Feb. 17 Goshen will have their meeting. Shuffling resumed on Wed., Jan 16 and the four top scorers were Arnold Keys 285, Wes McBride 244, Bernice Reid 242 and Ralph Stephenson 226. The four top scorers for Jan. 23 were Bernice Reid 355, Eleanor McAsh 293, Ruth Johnston 245 and Anna Keys 206. There will be shuffling on Wed., Jan 30. The next meeting for the Stan Lee Club will be Wed., Feb 6 with guest Neil McGavin bringing his "wit and wisdom".