The Citizen, 2008-12-18, Page 7Both school boards in Huron
and Perth Counties achieved
provincial targets for class sizes
between kindergarten and Grade 3,
according to a news release from
Perth-Wellington MPP John
Wilkinson.
“I am proud of the
accomplishments made by our local
school boards that are in turn making
a huge impact on the quality of
learning of our students,” stated
Wilkinson in the Dec. 3 news
release. “The benefits of these
smaller class sizes will become even
more evident as our students
continue to excel over the long
term.”
Avon Maitland District School
Board human resources
superintendent Jim Sheppard
confirmed the news release’s
numbers – stating that, among the
board’s primary classrooms, 90.2
per cent have less than 20 students,
and none have more than 23.
“That’s the province’s expectation
– that at least 90 per cent will be at
20 or less, and there will be none
over 23,” Sheppard explained in an
interview.
Sheppard also confirmed it was
increased grants from the provincial
Education Ministry that made it
possible to meet these targets.
“We’re very pleased that the
funding has been made available,”
he said.
Education superintendent Pat
Stanley, meanwhile, offered praise
for the 20-or-fewer target,
suggesting studies have shown
that smaller class sizes can be
effective.
“Research talks about the
optimum size being around the 20-
student range,” Stanley commented.
“And we know that the smaller class
sizes have to be in place for more
than just one year in order to get
those advantages.”
According to the Dec. 3 news
release, 90.4 per cent of primary
classrooms in the Huron-Perth
Catholic District School Board have
20 or fewer students.
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2008. PAGE 7.
Pitching in
The Grade 1 students at Brussels Public School
contributed their lovely voices to last week’s production of
Reindeer Rebellion for this year’s Christmas concert. Joe
Jacklin was one of the many students keen to get up on
stage and sing. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
At a meeting Tuesday, Dec. 9 inSeaforth, RR2, Gorrie residentJenny Versteeg was acclaimed to the
position of 2009 chair of the Avon
Maitland District School Board,
returning to a position she held for
one year in 2007.
The Huron-Perth Catholic District
School Board, meanwhile, will be
led in 2009 by first-time chair Jim
McDade of Goderich. He was
acclaimed at a meeting Dec. 8 at the
Catholic board’s Dublin
headquarters.
In Seaforth, Stratford trustees
Meg Westley – the outgoing chair –
and Doug Pratley were both
nominated for chair, but declined to
let their names stand for election.
Pratley eventually accepted the
position of vice-chair, after Huron
County trustees Shelley Kaastra and
Randy Wagler both declined to stand
for election.
“It’s a personal opportunity for me
to grow and learn,” said Pratley, who
has been nominated in the past as
vice-chair but opted not to seek the
position.
For the Catholic board, long-time
Stratford representative Ron Marcy
returns for a second consecutive year
as vice-chair.
Versteeg, who first joined the
Avon Maitland board as North Perthtrustee in 2003 and then was re-elected in the 2006 municipalelection, served as vice-chair for thepast year. Prior to that, she servedone year as chair and the previous
year as vice-chair.
“It’s our ability to work together
that makes the job of chair do-able
for me,” she told trustees following
her acclamation.
“Education has been good to us
and to our families, and we want to
give something back,” said Versteeg,
whose family formerly operated a
dairy farm. But she added that Avon
Maitland trustees have shown
themselves to also be concerned
about what education will look in the
district in the future, and what type
of legacy the current trustees will
leave for those who join the board in
2010.
Speaking to reporters following
the meeting, Versteeg said the
biggest challenge facing the board
over the next year will probably be
accommodation reviews. She noted
that, not only are public
consultations underway into
possible school consolidation and
closure in Exeter and Wingham, but
the board is still dealing with the
repercussions of similar processes
undertaken last year in Goderich and
St. Marys.
“So there are a lot of different
communities that we’re workingwith,” she explained.Also in 2009, the Avon Maitlandboard faces the challenge ofnegotiating a local agreement withits elementary teachers.
That challenge has been taken
care of in the Catholic board – with
four-year collective agreements
already ratified with all employee
groups. According to McDade, that
frees up Huron-Perth trustees to
concentrate on some of the other
areas they have identified as
priorities.
“We have labour stability,”
explained the former teacher,
principal and special education
coordinator, whose career in
education spanned 34 years. “Now,
we have to work to ensure we live
within our budgets. And we have to
make sure we continue our focus on
literacy and numeracy.”
McDade has a long history of
community political leadership,
having served a number of years
with both the Public Utilities
Commission and the recreation
committee for the town of Goderich.
He spent time as chair of both
organizations, and also is past
president of the Ontario Municipal
Water Association.
McDade succeeds Perth South
trustee Bernard Murray as Huron-
Perth chair.
Versteeg AMDSB chair
Christmas cooks
Christmas cookies were on the menu last week at Hullett
Central Public School’s Christmas concert. Faith Allen, left
and Claire Scrimgeour were two of the many cooks on
stage. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
Boards reach class size targets
COMMEMORATE THE NEWEST
FAMILY MEMBER'S 1ST NEW YEAR
Join the gallery of faces in The Citizen's
baby photo display January 8, 2009
Send or bring a picture of your little one born in
2008 along with a writeup which includes full name,
birth date and parents' names, to be featured in The
Citizen's Gallery of Faces on January 8, 2009, for
only $20.00 (GST included).
Please send picture (with name on back), along
with a cheque, to The Citizen by January 5.
Photos may be picked up after January 8.
THIS MUST BE PRE-PAID.
- Sample -
Please Complete
Baby's Full Name___________________________
Birth Date_________________________________
Father’s Full Name_________________________
Mother’s Full Name_________________________
$20.00 Enclosed
DEADLINE - January 5
2 pm in Brussels • 4 pm in Blyth
❑
Alex John Smith
May 18
son of
Mike & Laura
Smith
BB aa bb ii ee ss oo ff tt hh ee
YY ee aa rr 22 00 00 88
Deadline
extended
to Jan. 5
MUNICIPALITY OF
MORRIS-TURNBERRY
HOLIDAY HOURS
Office Hours
Wednesday, December 24th, 2008 9:00 am to 12:00 noon
Thursday, December 25th, 2008 Office Closed
Friday, December 26th, 2008 Office Closed
Monday, December 29th, 2008 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Tuesday, December 30th, 2008 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Thursday, January 1st, 2009 Office Closed
Friday, January 2nd, 2009 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Curbside pickup will take place as usual on
Wednesday, December 24th, and Wednesday, December 31st, 2008.
The Landfill Site will be open with regular hours on
Wednesday, December 24th and Wednesday, December 31st, 2008.
For further information please call the Municipal Office
519-887-6137
By Stew SlaterSpecial to The Citizen
By Stew Slater
Special to The Citizen