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The Citizen, 1996-11-27, Page 24BOARD MEMBER REQUIRED TOWNSHIP OF MORRIS The Township of Morris requires 1 person, who is a resident of the Township of Morris, to sit on the Seaforth Hospital Board as a representative of the Township of Morris. Duties will commence January, 1997. For further information please contact the Municipal Office 519-887-6137. Please submit your name in writing to the Township of Morris by - Tuesday, December 3, 1996 at 4:00 p.m. Confused about children? Want some ideas on how to deal with them? An information night for parents and others who are involved with children under 12 years of age will be held on December 10, 1996 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Eastdale Public School, Listowel. This information will help you: 1. Understand many of the issues Involving children; 2. Communicate with your children; 3. Help them change for the better by deciding what the central issues are, thrpugh setting expectations and by getting either their cooperation or compliance; 4. Disciplining children and distinguishing when they're incapable or being defiant; deciding when to confront and when to Ignore; methods of discipline that work. This two hour seminar will be conducted by Ken Roberts, M.Sc. Ken Is a local youth Counsellor with 18 years experience, who has been working directly with Listowel families and youth for the past three years. A small fee may be charged to cover the costs. For further Information, contact Ken Roberts at New Horizons Rehabilitation Services 291-5402. Gift Baskets Food or Body Care Pre-packaged in our store or custom- made for you Christmas Baking Supplies Bulk and Pre-Packaged 222 Josephine St., Wingham 357-3466 40 ,746 1-Le(a., Ykr ese T‘6toko. • t ikit; *x4/507 • odp :11 Eigit•„, • 4013A411 4144:0 vt5;10,71.;(464,e •RftW' %'7'• PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN; WEDNESDAY, rio'VEmbEii Board of ed, private businesses strike new committee By Amy Neilands Clinton News-Record After lengthy discussions at a special meeting of the Huron County Board of Education (HCBE), board members and members of a newly established Huron County Coalition of Private Business agreed to strike a committee to establish parameters between the two sectors. The meeting was held to discuss area private businesses' concerns with the board's actions of selling computers and internee time through the Huron County Education Foundation. In the past number of weeks, letters from the private sector have been circulated accusing the board of competing with the private sector. "We are not only here to focus on a short-term goal but on long term potential that can be created for everyone in this room," said board Vice-Chair Allan Carter in opening the meeting. The Huron County Coalition of Private Business was created "out of necessity to protect private business in Huron County from publicly funded competition," said Bill Wagner, secretary-treasurer of Hay Communications and a member from the coalition. But specifically, said Wagner, the coalition was formed to react to the HCBE's insurgence into business activities currently provided by private enterprise in the county. We have a lot of support in our association." The coalition sees nothing wrong with schools fundraising for the school band, bus trips and school uniforms or even with students selling their projects such as garden sheds made in class. "However", Wagner said, "if these garden sheds were mass produced by students and staff to provide a source of income, the coalition would view this as clearly competitive in nature." "We are concerned with the direction the board is taking," said another member of the coalition, adding they would like to see a clear definition of what the board is pursuing. "As long as we are not stepping on each other's toes we can all co-exist." "This is a great opportunity for us to move forward together," said Trustee Joan Van den Broeck. "I am confident that we will be able to work through those issues that are troublesome for all of us. It is important that everyone is clear on which direction we want to go and that we can support each other in the direction we do go. We have to work out the things that can be great for Huron County. That's our aim." When the board entered into internee agreements, said Trustee Doug Garniss, they looked for the lowest cost of providing intemet in their schools. Wagner said that when they received a request for a proposal for intemet services from the board, the board had already purchased equipment for internet. "It was all fait accomplis," said Wagner. "We had to play ball under their terms. We thought we could offer considerable savings for the board." "We are aware of your concerns," said Garniss. "We as trustees are responsible for what happened. We wanted to get the cheapest access for our school system. This is new technology to almost all of us. Maybe we made mistakes, but you should tell us what our mistakes were." Mark McDougall from Microtech in Clinton made note of the fact that technology changes very quickly. "This technology is very young," he said, referring to internet. "I don't see why you're throwing huge amounts of dollars into it." He also asked why the board felt it had to offei internee to everybody. "You're basically giving it away with your computer sales." Director of Education Paul Carroll responded, saying that through such technology as video conferencing and the intemet, they can save money. He made reference to a Goderich high school teacher who was turned down for a request for $4,500 to buy biology textbooks. "We can't afford textbooks anymore," said Carroll. This teacher was the first teacher in Ontario to develop a secondary school course for credits on the internee. "This teacher takes our system into the 21st century." "Our board is very progressive with technology and that is due largely to the super administration we have, along with people in the schools," said Trustee Norman Pickell. "We are thankful they have the vision. What have we done so far that you see as competition?" "Your partnership agreements are funded by tax dollars," said Wagner. "There is no way a private business can compete with tax Private business can't compete dollars." "Entrepreneurs are scraping to make it by," said Tim DeWeerd of Quadra Communications, adding that these same entrepreneurs are sending their children to the schools that are competing against them. "It's ludicrous to cut your own tax base." Some intemet service providers at the meeting suggested that the board might not be getting a deal from their server, HOMEtown. Martin VanderLoo, from Odyssey, said that they service the Catholic board at a "reasonable price" and added that the board "spent more money than required." Odyssey had made a proposal to the HCBE but never entered into negotiations with the board to service their schools. Janet Baird Jackson, superintendent of business, reported that with 853 internet accessible computers, if they had gone with the market price to connect all of those computers, it would cost the board $700,000 annually. Presently they pay an annual cost of $52,000 plus $10,000 for maintenance. "We have to determine where we want to position ourselves in response to the business community," said Van den Broeck, after lengthy discussions between the board and internet service providers. "If we keep talking like this we are going to get nowhere. I feel very dissatisfied with what we have achieved." Bert Meerveld, from HOMEtown, later presented some information of the board's Internet provider. He explained to the group that HOMEtown does not get any tax dollars to operate, they are a "self-sustaining organization" which began in 1995. Their mandate is to be self-supported. "When we started, the rural areas were not well served," he said. "This is such a new technology and we want to get it into the hands of people who need it. Our partnership with the board gives us the opportunity to reach out to people." HOMEtown is a non-profit organization, and after the salaries are paid, the remaining money goes back into the communities they serve, said Meerveld. He said they are struggling to carry out this mission and are looking for partnerships with other internet service providers. "I invite all Huron internet providers to bid on a HOMEtown contract, but be prepared to give back to the community. We want everybody to be a piece of the action." Bob Middleton of Wingham, said there is indirect government funding to HOMEtown through its partnership with the board. "This is not available to private enterprises. Grants are not available to us. We do not have the pleasure of using public buildings to do our work or set up," he said of HOMEtown's use of the education centre and board staff to do hook-ups. "Even though technically you do not get tax dollars, government funds are allowing you to operate your network. If intemet is so important and students won't succeed in life without it, why don't you give it to them for free?" While the coalition believed the board was in violation of the Education Act through its competition with the private sector, Dan Murphy, the board's lawyer, said the act may have been misread. "It does not prohibit anything," said Murphy, adding that the minister may pass regulations that prohibits or controls the activities of a board in regards to competing with the private sector. "The minister has never passed a regulation affecting an individual board. He has been requested to, but so far has refused." With the selling of computers to staff and students, Carroll said it is the "appropriate way to make technology available to 10,000 children in Huron." He explained that a computer store in Wingham, Advanced Technologies-Wingham Computer, has agreed to sell computers to the local schools. The ,store gets the profit and some money will go back to the school. "We hope to help businesses grow, to make them stronger." The board also has partnerships with the Bank of Montreal, in which families can receive funding for a computer at a lower rate. "You still require credit," said McDougall. "How will this provide for the lower income families?" "Our goal is to ensure that most children have computers," said Watch for bogus bills People are being warned to be on the outlook for bogus bills. According to OPP a counterfeit bill was discovered at a restaurant in Turnberry Twp. on Nov. 3. Police say the bill was an obvious photocopy of a 1989 bank note, of poor quality and poor colour. It had been crumpled and torn to make it look aged. Police say that anyone coming in contact with these bills, should hang onto it, get a description of the passer, the vehicle plate number if possible, then contact the police immediately. Carroll. "We hope to achieve that by the year 2000 and we hope the stores in Huron County will help us." A representative from Advanced Technologies-Wingham Computer, said he doesn't agree with the direction being taken by the board. When the actions of the board came to his attention, he contacted the board office and voiced his displeasure. "I made my objections known," he said. "I was up front and honest." He added that the opportunity is there for other stores to get involved. "People are not going to make a mass exodus to buy computers at the board. People can make their own choices." A recommendation was made by Van den Broeck to strike a committee, of board and coalition members, to strike parameters of the two sectors. The parameters will be presented at a future public meeting. "The direction we are heading in is a good one," said Goderich District Collegiate Institute student trustee Vance McPherson. "Now we're past the first step, let's get this done."