The Citizen, 2005-11-03, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2005.
Significant change on horizon in
By Stew Slater
Special to The Citizen
September. 2008. could be a time
of significant change on various
trouts in the Avon Maitland District
School Board, according to this
\ ear’s version of an annual
Preliminary Accommodation
Analysis.
Possible scenarios mentioned in
the report include relocating Grades
7 and 8 students into high school
facilities in Goderich, Clinton,
Wingham. Mitchell and Exeter, and
decreasing the number of
elementary schools in the triangle
cornered by Goderich. Wingham and
Clinton.
Construction of a new school in
Listowel. to replace existing
facilities, is also mentioned.
"Staff are making no
recommendations regarding changes
in accommodation at this time, but
anticipate that recommendations
will he made in the coming years,"
states the 2005-06 accommodation
report.-
"We have more space than we
need and that's going to continue to
increase," explained business
superintendent Janet Baird-Jackson,
in delivering the report to trustees al
a regular meeting Tuesday, Oct. 25.
This September, the board
welcomed students from Stratford’s
aging Avon Public School into a
nearby building formerly occupied
by an elementary school which had
closed two years earlier. The most
recent high-profile accommodation
changes in the board, however,,
occurred in 2002 and 2003, with the
closure of Seaforth District High
School and the relocation of all
Grades 7 and 8 students within
Stratford into that city’s two
secondary schools.
Replicating that Grades 7 and 8
scenario in other locations may be
the first item up for examination by
the board. and it receives
considerable discussion in the 2005-
06 accommodation report.
According to Baird-Jackson, an
independent consultant will be hired
this year to review Avon Maitland
enrolment projections over the next
15 years.
"Analysis is anticipated to lake
place in the spring and fall of 2006,"
states the report. “Communities
would lhen be engaged in a
consultative process prior to the
board making a decision."
High schools projected to have
available space to accommodate
Grades 7 and 8 students, and which
meet some other criteria, include
Central Huron Secondary School in
Clinton. Goderich District
Collegiate Institute, F.E. Madill
Secondary School in Wingham, and
South Huron District High School in
Exeter.
Mitchell District High School,
meanwhile, is projected to require a
■>mall addition in order to
accommodate Grades 7 and 8
students.
“We’d like to look at Grade 7-12
scenarios. It has worked well in
Stratford." said education director
Geoff Williams.
And. in answer to a question from
South Huron trustee Randy Wagler.
Williams added, “A Grade 7-12
model has been successful in terms
of student success."
A future review of the
North/Central Huron district’s
elementary accommodations is also
advised. The term used repeatedly is
“consolidation," which could quite
likely translate into
recommendations for a decrease in
the number of schools in the district.
Speaking to reporters after the
Oct. 25 meeting, however, Williams
noted “consolidation" could
possibly end up being translated into
the construction of a new facility to
replace older buildings.
AMD SB
"One of the things we’ve learned
through past accommodation
reviews is that, if you can offer
something better as an alternative,
people may be more willing to
accept possible changes,” he
said.
Williams didn't entirely rule out
recommending changes before 2008,
either — at least in Listowel.
Pressed by chair Meg Westley about
the elevated loading of North Perth
elementary schools — “I know that
they’re kind of hanging out the
windows there,” the Stratford trustee
said — the education director
commented, “These are just
suggested recommendations. There
may be a need to fast-track if school
accommodation guidelines are not
being met.”
The report notes possible Listowel
scenarios include major additions to
existing schools, or the construction
of a new facility to replace older
ones.
Trustees reject mileage rate increase
By Stew Slater
Special to The Citizen
In a 5-4 vote on Tuesday, Oct. 25,
trustees of the Avon Maitland
District School Board narrowly
defeated a recommendation to boost
the amount paid per kilometre to
employees and trustees who must
drive as part of their work.
Veteran North Huron
representative Colleen Schenk
certainly put forward the perception
ol casting the deciding vote, by
admitting to colleagues just
moments before the question was
called that she still wasn’t sure how
she would vote. The former board
chair claimed to still be mulling over
a well-prepared argument against (he
kilometrage rate” increase, made
moments earlier by Stratford trustee
Doug Pratlcy.
In the end, Schenk voted against
the recommendation, along with
Pratley, Huron County trustees
Shelley Kaastra and Emily Milley,
and board chair Meg Westley of
Stratford.
The recommendation, to increase
the kilometrage rate from 37 cents to
40 cents, was brought forward
following a request for review.
Groups requesting a review by the
finance committee included
representatives from one of the
board’s labour unions, the facilities
department, student trustees, and
members of the special education
team — who, according to education
superintendent Marie Parsons, “all . .
. drive every day.”
A report delivered by staff as
background to the recommendation
cited “the rapid escalation of fuel
prices since the beginning of the
current school year," and suggested
amending the kilometrage rate
effective Nov. I. Current board
policy dictates the kilometrage rate
is normally reviewed once per year,
in June, and is only brought forward
for a trustee vote if a change is
recommended.
Pratley noted gasoline prices have
dropped off from their September
highs of well over $ l per litre; on the
day of the meeting, he had filled his
vehicle for about 87 cents per litre in
Stratford. He had surveyed a number
of business and government
organizations around the city and
found their kilometrage rates to be as
low as 33.5 cents.
And he also observed an increase
in the rale would do nothing for
employees who. through no fault of
their own. had been transferred to
schools far from their homes, and for
HE ^ets budget update
whom kilometrage rates don’t apply
because their commutes are not
covered.
It was contravention of the
existing kilometrage rate policy,
however, which formed a significant
portion of Pratley’s argument against
the change.
He suggested trustees should be
wary of setting a precedent by going
against board policy.
“I also have a concern with regard
to the perception: We are spending
dollars that have not been allocated
to us by the government for this
purpose,” the Stratford trustee said.
All is not lost, however, for
employees and school board
officials hoping for relief-frem high
fuel costs prior to the scheduled
June,.2006 kilometrage rate review.
A secondary recommendation,
calling for an annual January
“reconciliation ... to adjust for fuel
escalation or de-escalation,”
received unanimous support from
trustees. Now, in effect, it’s possible
the rate will be set twice per year: in
January and June.
“Basically . . . we’re delaying our
decision (on reacting to current fuel
prices) for two months,” said
Pratley, in explaining why he
supported the secondary
recommendation. “That, to me,
seems reasonable.”
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STOP FLU
By Heather Crawford
Citizen staff
Treasurer finance manager for
I luron East, Brad Knight presented a
financial statement to council al the
Tuesday. Oct. 18 meeting that slated
the details of the budget from Jan. I
until Sept. 30.
The total revenues were
S8.145,058.00 according to the
report.
Such expenses as street lighting
s\stems; water system expenses;
waste management; health services;
cemeteries; community centres and
pools; federal, provincial and
municipal funding; fire arenas and
departments; protection to persons
and property; transportation;
environmental services; recreation
and cultural services and planning
and development expenses were
included.
The budget covered the areas of
Molesworth, Ethel. Cranbrook,
Walton, Brussels, Dublin, St.
Columban, Seaforth. Harpurhcy.
I .gmondville. Vanastra, Brucefield.
and Kippen.
The Vanastra Day Care Nursery
was also included in the budget with
a total revenue for the year so far
ieported as being $222,543.
Ihc Brussels Morris-Grey
( (immunity Centre had “strong
revenue.” Knight said, "which
reflects the kind of summer |the
arena| had.”
I here is a deficit of approximately
$38,000 for the arena that should
diop to $12,000 using (he same
figures,as last year. Knight said.
The Seaforth Community Centre
has a deficit of approximately
$17,000, Knight said. There is a
surplus of $11,000. Without the
expenses for installing the new
furnace, lhe deficit would be fully
covered.
Also. Knight said there were more
legal issues to be dealt with this year
than anticipated this year for the
municipality.
They expect to be slightly over
budget because of this.
There is still time to register!
PUBLIC NOTICE
Re: BY-LAW TO ESTABLISH RULES OF ORDER,
REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES FOR THE
COUNCILAND COMMITTEES OF THE
CORPORATION OF THE COUNTY OF HURON.
This notice is given under the provisions of the Municipal Act,
2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25, as amended, Section 238(2) - Every
municipality and local board shall pass a procedure by-law for
governing the calling, place and proceedings of meetings.
Section 238(4) - Before passing a by-law under subsection (2), a
municipality and local board shall give notice of its intention to
pass the by-law.
The Draft Procedural By-law will be presented for deliberation
and consideration at the Committee of the Whole meeting on
November 15, 2005 and at the County Council Session at 9:00
a m. on November 30, 2005 in the Council Chambers, Court
House, Goderich, Ontario.
Barbara A. Leamen
County Clerk
The Corporation of the County of Huron
1 Court House Square
Goderich, Ontario N7A 1M2
(519) 524-8394
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To register please call Floyd Herman at
1.519.524.2515
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