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The Citizen, 2009-05-14, Page 6Continued from page 1 being used now, how can up to 80 students be put into the system with everyone still using the facilities as much as they did before the consolidation? Ritsma says that schools tend to grow to the space they are given and that he has no concerns over the shared use of facilities if the area’s Grade 7 and 8 students were to be brought to Madill in 2010. Sports teams and academic competitions were also a concern. For example, when incorporating four schools into one high school, one parent asked, will Madill’s elementary portion then send more teams to sports tournaments or more students to regional science fairs. Campbell said that is currently what the Stratford schools do, splitting the students into as close to as many teams as they would have had before. They are allowed to send a higher number of students to academic competitions than other schools because of their student body and its circumstances. One parent asked the staff why they had gone out of their way to organize two information sessions on the prospect of school consolidation, but that no research had been done for the Accommodation Review Committee (ARC) proposal. Ritsma said that it was a tough situation for the board to be in, where if they don’t provide enough information about its staff’s proposal, that could be brought against them, and if they do, they would be accused of leaning towards that proposal. Another woman who had recently attended a school board meeting in the Clinton area said she overheard a member of the Central Huron Secondary School staff commenting on the funding the school would be receiving once Grade 7 and 8 students were implemented. She asked if there was discussion about possibly moving more students into Central Huron Secondary School, and if so, is there funding associated with it. Huron South trustee Randy Wagler said the comment should not have been spoken and that there is no extra funding associated with the consolidation of students. However, he said, that while the board has not currently been discussing the consolidation of students in the Hullett area, that it is a possibility down the road. “We’ve done it before and we’ll continue to do it in the future. That’s keeping our options open,” he said. He added that the model seems to work and it also makes the best use of the board’s existing resources. He said a homeowner wouldn’t jump to build a new house if his current house has empty rooms. A question was asked if there was enough room in their secondary school system to place all of Grade 7 and 8 students into the high schools. Ash said that right now there is not enough room, but with the projected declining enrollment, there should be enough room in three to five years. However, Central East Huron trustee Shelley Kaastra said that a situation like that is not favourable. She likened it to a traditional ARC process, but with the parents of every student throughout Huron and Perth Counties arguing over territory. Ash also said the Stratford model isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution and that not all areas are prepared and conducive to a solution like that. He also recalled some history in terms of the trustees, saying they all have their own minds, and that it’s not a foregone conclusion that they would select the staff’s recommendation. “The trustees have gone with the staff recommendation, they’ve gone with the ARC recommendation and they’ve rejected both and come up with a scenario of their own,” he said. “The board is full of trustees with minds of their own and the decision is not final until June 23.” He also addressed some concerns that the ARC recommendation was not given full consideration. “I know there are concerns that the process is flawed. I can’t change that now,” he said. “But I am sorry that you feel that way.” The bylaw putting Morris- Turnberry’s 2009 budget into place was passed at the May 5 meeting of council, but not before more discussion. The debate was initiated by councillor Mark Beaven who argued that the budget included setting up a reserve fund of $750,000 from the municipality’s share of the assets of the Blyth and Wingham fire area boards. Based on the $555,000 appraisal of the Blyth department’s assets, Morris- Turnberry’s share would be about $110,000, he said. That would leave $640,000 needed from the municipality’s 27 per cent share of the assets of the Wingham department, requiring a valuation of those assets at $2.3 to $2.4 million – an unlikely total, Beaven said. Nancy Michie, adminis- trator clerk-treasurer pointed out that the figure is just “an in-and-an-out figure” into the reserves and the actual amount received won’t make a difference, simply reducing the amount in the reserve. But Beaven argued that the budget calls for money to be taken from reserves for road construction and other needs, leaving the reserves depleted. After a recorded vote, the bylaw passed with only Beaven and councillor Paul Gowing voting against it. Top competitor Sadie Chalmers of Blyth brought home a number of awards from the recent Kiwanis Festival in Stratford. (Photo submitted) Morris-Turnberry councilwill request proposals for fireprotection from Huron East,North Huron and the Twp. ofHowick.At their May 5 meeting, councillors voted to request proposals for coverage for the period Jan. 1, 2010 to Dec. 31, 2014. The surrounding fire departments will be asked to submit their proposals by June 15. In the request, the area of coverage from the Brussels station of Huron East fire department will be increasedto cover more of Morris ward,reducing the coverage area ofthe Blyth and Winghamstations of North Huron’s newamalgamated fire department. The request for proposals comes after an acrimonious end of the joint fire area boards in Blyth and Wingham after North Huron gave notice of pulling out of the Wingham agreement and said it would not renew the Blyth agreement at the end of the year. Morris-Turnberry explored, then rejected, thepossibility of starting its ownfire department. Meanwhile councillorsreceived the appraisal of theassets of the Blyth and District Fire Area Board, for the purpose of splitting the value of the department among participating municipalities. Not included in the $555,000 valuation, however was the value of the fire station. Councillor Paul Gowing, a member of the Blyth department board, said he had been informed that thebuilding belonged to the oldVillage of Blyth and was notincluded in the settlement.When the agreement was readout and contained the phrase that all municipalities shared “use and ownership” of the building, council passed a motion to request that the value of the fire station should be included in the assessment. Gowing told council that the value of the building is not likely to be great. M-T seeks fire protection proposals Principals respond to concerns THE EDITOR, Last week a flyer was distributed regarding the staff recommendation to move Grade 7 and 8 students to the high school. It has been brought to my attention, through various phone calls and e-mails that many people are mistakenly under the impression this flyer was sponsored by the two trustees that were pictured within it. Neither trustee Shelley Kaastra or I circulated this information. We certainly do not condone the information in this flyer. We feel that the distribution of this type of material has been counter- productive to the discussion. We are concerned that no contact name was published within the pamphlet. It is regrettable that a photo of a child smoking was used to inflame the situation. This representation does not present a factual or well- reasoned response on any side of the argument. It is clearly an unfair attack on the students of F.E. Madill Secondary School. Finally, I would like to reassure my constituency that the Avon Maitland District School Board has not reached a final decision with respect to the accommodation review in this area. Any parties who are interested in this issue, have had the opportunity to attend an information night and a bus trip. These opportunities took place on May 11 and May 12. These events were organized to help inform all of us about the possibility of placing Grade 7 and 8 students into a high school setting. The final decision on this issue will be made on June 23. The trustees remain open to receiving community input. Regards, Colleen Schenk. Sadie Chalmers of Blyth had great success recently at the Kiwanis Festival of the Performing Arts held in Stratford. Sadie competed in voice, as well as speech and drama over a two-week period,April 20 - 30. Chalmers competed for her first time in the pop vocal category and was very proud of her first and second-place finishes. Also in voice, Chalmers won the Gordon Jocelyn Award, given at the voice finals, for overall musical theatre solo, ages 12- 14 for her performance of I have Confidence from The Sound of Music. Chalmers also won the Dorothy L. Leitch Award, given at the speech and drama finals, for outstanding student in speech and drama. Chalmers is the daughter of Lynn and Darryl Chalmers. She is a Grade 8 student at Blyth Public School. She takes her voice and drama lessons from Shannon Rose Scott. Blyth girl wins awards at Kiwanis Festival WANTED 7 HOMES THAT NEED ROOFING 7 homes in your area will be given the opportunity of having an INTERLOCK metal roofing system installed on their home at a reasonable cost. This lifetime product is capturing the interest of homeowners across the country who want to know this will be the last time they will have to re-roof their home. Our product is environmentally friendly and comes with a transferable Lifetime Limited Warranty with an excellent choice of colours to complement your home and is going to be introduced to your local market. Your home can be a show place in your neighbourhood and we will make it worth your while if we can use your home. Please call: 1-866-733-5808 Toll-Free 24 hours 7 Days a week Letter to the editor Trustee comments M-T passes budget bylaw in split vote By Keith Roulston The Citizen The Blyth Horticultural Society will hold a membership/donation drive on Thursday, May 21 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Scrimgeour’s Food Market in Blyth. For the low cost of $2 people can become members or renew memberships. Purchasing a membership does not mean that you have to be an active member either. Or, they may prefer to make a donation to the Society instead. Membership is an important part of the Society, as it dictates what grant funds are available through OMAFRA. The Society also receives funding from the Twp. of North Huron. However, this funding does not cover the entire cost of maintaining and planting the gardens. Membership and donations are essential. Funding is certainly an important part, but the volunteers are equally essential. If there are not the people to plant, the flowers will cease to be planted. New members are greatly needed. If anyone has any questions regarding the Blyth Horticultural Society or wish to become a member, call Anne Elliott 519-523- 9725. Horticultural Society holds membership drive PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2009.