The Citizen, 2009-10-29, Page 7THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2009. PAGE 7.Avon Maitland school trusteeColleen Schenk insisted to Morris-Turnberry councillors, Oct. 20, that no
decisions have been made on the
closure of the Brussels Public School
but one councillor didn’t believe her.
“It’s very clear what the outcome of
this is going to be,” said Mark Beaven
who sat on the Accommodation
Review Committee (ARC) for schools
in Turnberry, Belgrave, Blyth and
Wingham. “The people of Brussels,
Grey and Morris-Turnberry need to
realize that no matter what they do
their schools will be closing.”
Schenk and Beaven clashed when
he accused trustees of not doing their
work and just accepting staff
recommendations.
“I won’t tell you how to do your jobif you don’t tell me how to do mine,”said Schenk. Schenk outlined the possibility ofclosing Brussels and accommodatingits kindergarten to Grade 6 students in
the new school being built to replace
central northern Huron school and
moving Grey students to Elma.
“However the scenarios I just
presented are not necessarily the
conclusion that the upcoming ARC
will come to,” she said.
She promised “We will listen, and
do our best to understand all the points
of view we will be presented with
(from the ARC).”
“Why did the trustees go against
what the parents wanted,” asked Jim
Nelemans, deputy-mayor, referring to
the protests by parents in the northern
Huron schools that they didn’t want
their Grade 7 and 8 students sent to F.E. Madill Secondary School. Schenk denied that a majority ofparents were opposed to the inclusionof senior elementary students in thehigh school. For herself, she had no
problem putting those students in the
high school.
“I did a thorough investigation and
felt it would be good for the students,”
she said.
Mayor Dorothy Kelly wondered if
the trustees examined the damage
closing schools does to the
communities.
While Schenk sympathized, she
explained “we have to look at what’s
best for our students.”
In some schools like Grey there are
triple grades in one room, she said,
which aren’t providing the best
education.
But councillor Paul Gowingquestioned the rationality of closingthe Brussels school which is far fromunder capacity.“We’re talking about a school that’sfilled to over-capacity,” he said.
“There’s a very small number of
students who are bussed (to the
school). You’re going to take all those
kids who are walking to school and
bus them to a new school.”
As for the costly repairs that are
endangering the future of the school
Gowing said “I’d like someone toshow me the deficiencies.”Schenk said Brussels is a wonderfulschool but there are major costs aheadto maintain it. Meanwhile there arefunding possibilities to expand the
proposed new school in northern
Huron to accept those students,
possibilities that won’t last forever.
“If we don’t do something our
maintenance costs are going to
endanger the quality of education,”
she said. “The issues are real.”
M-T councillor clashes with trustee
Continued from page 4
solution.”
Ash explained that since last year’s
review the process for voting has
changed. “We had to tighten who had
a vote and who didn’t,” he said,
adding that the advice came from an
external review. There will be two
appointed to the committee from each
school with one alternate.
Discussions will begin around the
preferred option, but Ash said another
possibility should be laid out. “Plan A
may be a building, but if there’s no
money, what’s Plan B?”
This comment proved to be a bit of
foreshadowing, when Ash later
mentioned that while funding
approval was received in June for the
North Huron school, there has been
no response to the application for
funding to include Brussels students
in the school.
“We have not heard where or when
we might get another opportunity to
ask for that money,” said Ash.
Brussels representative Charlie Hoy
said, “So the preferred option is based
on the possibility of funding. Are we
doing an exercise based on what ifs?”
Ash apologized if this created any
confusion. “We tend to be optimistic
and to date have been fairly successful
in our applications. We should know if
there’s an opportunity for capital
grants this year.”
Pam Martin of Grey, however, felt
that it was important because of this
that the committee have Plan B soon.
“I’d like to see it so we can look into
your proposal. Optimism is great, but
realism is better.”
Frustration was expressed from
Brussels parents that they had not
been included in the North Huron
review if the children were going to be
attending that school. “If we were part
of this whole plan, well, it sucks being
brought in later,” said John Nesbit.
“Like it or not, if we get the money or
not, we should have been brought into
this a year ago.”
Ash said that accommodation
reviews are “a work in progress.” The
North Huron schools had to be chosen
by September 2008, before the board
knew there was going to be funding
for a new build.
Brussels has now been included in
the recent review because of its
geographic proximity to Grey and its
connection to Grey and Listowel.
That connection, however, isn’t
exactly as strong as the board has
indicated, said Grey parent, Monique
Baan. The statment that Grey students
prefer to attend Listowel high school,
Baan said, was not accurate. “There
are kids at Grey that go to Listowel.
But I would like people to know they
also go to Wingham and Clinton.”
While excess capacity is a problem
with many schools this is not the case
in Brussels which is actually filled to
the rafters. The problem there is the
condition of the school.
Superintendent of business Janet
Baird Jackson said that in 1989 the
“previous board” used portable
money to put on what looks like
portable additions. The result is that
the whole one end of the school is in
need of work. “You would have to tear
down and replace the portables,” she
said.
Baird Jackson explained that the
board no longer has the ability to raise
funding through taxes for capital
costs. “Now the Ministry controls the
whole thing. We are at the mercy of
the Ministry and what they will fund.
A lot is on a per pupil basis.”
She also spke of the province’s
facility inventory system. “It’s almost
like big brother is watching.”
Pauleen Kerkhof of Brussels spoke
of the ability of small communities to
pull together and take care of what’s
important to them without much
government help and suggested taking
a different approach to the Ministry. “I
know there are people who would do
things to keep these schools alive,”
she said adding the community thrives
because of the commitment of
volunteer hours and labour.
“Maybe it’s not how things are
done, but maybe it’s time to get them
to listen to what people will do to
keep their community alive.”
Susan Alexander of Grey
questioned the rationale behind
building over repairing schools that
the board had already invested money
in. “How much did you put into Grey
three years ago? And now you’re
going to turn around and close it. How
does that make good economic
sense?”
Ash said that the board has done a
good job of keeping their buildings in
good shape, but an advantage of
starting fresh is the opportunity to do
what they are doing in St. Marys and
use green initiatives. Also, new means
capital costs won’t be an issue for
decades.
However, the point was raised that
it’s more environmentally-friendly to
renovate than build.
“That is true if the funding is there,”
said Ash.
Dawn Hastings of Brussels asked
the board to provide information on
what the replacement costs would be
to those rooms, soon. “We need it to
make our decision.”
Ash thanked those present for their
input, which will be taken into
account when the official meetings
begin. The first ARC meeting is Nov.
4 at Brussels Public School. The
other dates are Dec. 2, Grey; Jan. 20,
Wallace; Feb. 3, Eastdale and Feb. 24,
Central. All meetings begin at 7 p.m.
Delegations are welcome but must
give notice at least 24 hours before the
meeting. They can contact the board
through the website or by calling Sue
Hicks at the board office.
People can also keep up to date on
the review for their area at the Avon
Maitland website.
Ash, who will serve as committee
chair, said members are welcome to
hold other meetings, but reminded
them “if it doesn’t happen at a public
meeting, it didn’t happen. Folks can
get together but discussion must come
to the meetings. It’s very important we
have those dialogues at this table as
well.”
The staff report will be presented to
the board by late March or early April.
The decision will be made by the
trustees in May or June.
Voting process tightened
By Keith RoulstonThe Citizen
Township of North Huron
Council & Committee
Meeting Schedule
November 2 Regular Council Meeting
7:30 p.m. - Council Chambers
November 9 Committee of the Whole
7:00 p.m. - Council Chambers
November 10 Belgrave Community Centre Board
7:00 p.m. - Belgrave Arena
November 16 Regular Council Meeting
7:30 p.m. - Council Chambers
November 17 North Huron Police Services Board
7:00 p.m. - Board Room
November 18 Wingham Area Fire Board
7:00 p.m. - Wingham Fire Hall
ROYAL CANADIAN
LEGION - BRANCH 420
BLYTH
The Poppy Campaign money collected
in 2008 was $4,409.25
THE FOLLOWING IS A REPORT
OF THE POPPY ACCOUNT
POPPY ACCOUNT
Bank Balance Sept. 30/08 $2774.34
Collected in 2008 Campaign 4409.25
Total $7183.59
EXPENDITURES
Poppy Supplies 1049.80
Printing & Advertising 501.72
Posters, Poems & Essay Contest Prizes 675.00
Parkwood Hospital Visit &
Bursary (Veteran's Comfort)
& Charitable Foundation 1992.72
$4219.24
TOTAL RECEIPTS $7183.59
TOTAL EXPENDITURES 4219.24
BANK BALANCES SEPT. 30/09 $2964.35
Poppy Chairperson Donna Govier would like to thank all
who made the 2008 Campaign the success it has been, final
calculations indicate gross receipts approaching $4,409.25
earmarked for service to veterans and their families. As the
2009 campaign approaches it seems appropriate to thank
all who donated during the door to door canvass last
November. A special thanks to all the businesses and
organizations for their continuing support:
The Legion has a supply of canes, crutches, wheelchairs,
walkers, raised toilet seats for any person in our district
who may require the use of them. A special thanks goes
out to all the Businesses, Clubs and people who have
supported The Blyth Legion Branch 420 Poppy Campaign
in the past. Also thanks to the Legion members who have
assisted in making this one of the best poppy campaigns
ever. Poppy Week will go from October 31st to
November 11th.
Yours truly,
Poppy Campaign Chairperson Donna Govier
Remembrance Day
Nov. 11/09
Service will be held at the BLYTH
MEMORIAL HALL at 10:45 a.m. with
Pastor Les Cook officiating. The
Parade Parties will meet at the
Blyth Legion at 10:15 a.m.
YOUR ATTENDANCE
SHALL BE REMEMBERED
Blyth Legion
Branch 420
Wednesday, November 11, 2009