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The Huron Expositor, 1998-04-22, Page 15THE HURON EXPOSITOR, Alit 22, 191111-111 Request submitted for school board to reconsider vote on JK BY TRISH WILKINSON CLINTON - Perth County parents hoping to send their children to junior kinder- garten this fall shouldn't give up on the idea just yet. Paul Carroll, director of education for the Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB), stated that Trustee Vicki Culbert has submitted a request asking the board to reconsider last Tuesday's vote which declined to extend the junior kindergarten program, cur- rently in place in Huron, to schools in the Perth jurisdic- tion. "Under the Rules of Order in the board bylaws, it is pos- sible for a trustee to submit a written request, to the Secretary of the Board, to have a question reconsid- ered," a press release from the AMDSB stated. "Such a request has been received and therefore the matter will be placed .on the agenda of the meeting of the board, sched- uled for April 28, 1998." Carroll stated that now the board will be asked to vote on whether or not they choose to reconsider the issue. "The matter is eligible to be brought back if the majority choose to do so," Carroll stat- ed, adding that if passed, the original question will once again stand before the board. The request comes after the recommendation to extend the program was narrowly defeated in a 5-4 vote April 14. Junior kindergarten, which was offered in the former Huron board but cancelled in Perth before amalgamation, was approved in February for continuation in Huron for the 1998/99 school year. However, the board deferred the decision on Perth schools, deciding to wait until the new funding model was released. And, despite the board being given the required funding from the province, enough other concerns con- vinced a majority of trustees to defeat the recommenda- tion. "Before I could support something like this, I would like to see a lot more informa- tion on the program," Abby Armstrong, chair of the board, stated during the lengthy debate before the vote. "I want to see some kind of concrete model." Armstrong, like some of the trustees who voted against the program extension, noted that the board might be missing out on a great opportunity with a new government pro- gram if they voted in favor of junior kindergarten. This program, known as the early.leaming grant, had been explained earlier in the meet- ing as a new fund being offered by the provincial gov- ernment in their recently announced funding model. It was noted that this money, which in earlier esti- mates offers the board over $750,000 more than the junior kindergarten grant, is • `Canada Book Day' on Thursday .1 being provided by the govern- ment in support of early learning initiatives for senior kindergarten to Grade 3 stu- dents. However, it is clearly stated that boards must choose between either junior kindergarten or the early learning grant as the province was only offering one or the other. "We are really on the horns of a dilemma. You can have junior kindergarten, or you can have a special early learn- ing program," John Patterson, associate director of educa- tion, stated. A majority of the trustees agreed that this was indeed a dilemma, and were reluctant to pass junior kindergarten before they knew if this new money being offered could end up helping more children. "I have real reservations that we are throwing away a great opportunity," Armstrong said. Trustee Leslie Wood echoed Armstrong's con- cerns, noting that if the early learning program could help more kids, "shouldn't we be looking at what this is?" During the discussion, some trustees raised the ques- tion of whether or not the AMDSB would be eligible for the new grant for the Perth students since Huron schools were already approved for junior kindergarten. However, information sent out by the Ministry of Education and Training states that "boards that offer junior The Huron County Library invites you to visit your local branch to "Get One" and "Read One." If you would also like to "Give One," donations towards the pur- chase of books would be gratefully accepted. Tax receipts will be issued for cash donations and, if the donor wishes, an attractive book plate will be added to all purchased titles in recog- minimum of $25. on April 23 will receive a Canada Day book bag. This book bag is illustrated by the colourful artwork by Barbara Klunder nition of the gift of reading. that appears on the Canada In honour of Canada Book Day posters and bookmarks Day, anyone who donates a displayed at library branches. Owner of area ambulance service calls transfer BY DAVID SCOTT was scheduled as a guest Lakeshore Advance staff writer ;raker and member of a ZURICH — If you ask Brad Lucas the recent transfer of ambulance services from a provincially funded service to a municipal responsibility is a positive change for ambulance operators in Ontario. Lucas is the owner/operator of both the Zurich Ambulance Service Inc. and the Seaforth- Clinton Ambulance Service Ltd. As well, he is presently the vice president of the Ontario Ambulance Operators' Association (DADA) - a posi- tion he was elected to in the fall of 1997. Prior to that, Lucas had been a director for two years. The two local ambulance companies he operates provide 365 day a year, 24-hour a day coverage in approximately three-quarters of Huron County and part of the town of Mitchell in Perth County. There are many unanswered questions still from ambulance operators, the public and municipal governments about the new provincial legislation. That is probably why the Ontario Hospital Association presented a day -long session in Toronto on Monday (April 20) entitled "Ambulance Services: Crisis or Opportunity." Lucas Life expectancy Canadians can now expect to live an average of about 78.6 years. Statistics Canada says this 1996 figure, the most recent year for which statistics are available, is a record for this country. The average life expectancy for Canadian women is now 81.4 years. It is 75.7 years for men, who have been narrow- ing the gender longevity for almost two decades. The women had a 5.9 year edge in 1996, compared to a 7.5 year advantage in 1978. Contract okayed About 73 per cent of Sifto Salt mine workers at Goderich ratified a new two- year contract last Tuesday. The union says it boosts salaries by about five per cent this year and 3.5 per cent in 1999. The contract also includes a $1,600 signing bonus for each worker, and gives senior workers added protection when layoffs threaten their positions. neildi iite.eonference. The Lakeshore Advance spoke with him at his Zurich office .prior to the conference. Reason for Change The reason why ambulance services were designated a municipal responsibility as of Jan. 1, 1998, originates in David Crombie's study which made various recommenda- tions to the provincial govern- ment about the transfer of responsibilities to the munici- pal level and helped the province form its Who Does What paper. "The recommendations from the Crombie Report went to the province. Some of the stuff the government accepted, some it didn't," said Lucas. "The OAOA is always look- ing for improvement in the system. But we never contem- plated a shift in funding from ' provincial to municipal." But after the change was announced Lucas said his organization felt it "could be an opportunity to make posi- tive changes in the system design for the patient." The OAOA has been working with the provincial government and municipal governments to ensure there's a smooth transi- tion over the next few years and the quality of service is maintained. Three Chokes Municipal governments have three choices regarding ambu- lance services. One option has to be selected by Dec. 31, 1999. They can either: • formalize an arrangement with the existing provider - set up a contract agreement, • open a competitive bid process under a request for proposal - have different ambulance operators submit proposals for service in the municipalities - and choose one, or: • assume the direct provision of service - essentially, have municipal or county employ- ees run the ambulance service. As the OAOA says in a clari- fying statement that was included in a recent memo sent to all municipal councils in Ontario: "the reassigning of the responsibility for ambulance service from the province to municipalities was not done to improve its local management but rather to bring the industry under the control of the level of government which' it most affects." "I personally support the move to the municipal level," says Lucas. "It will be more local, more conducive to be responsible to the local taxpay- ers. Historically we were get- ting 'made in Toronto' answers, not made in Huron County." Ambulance operators have traditionally worked closely with municipalities and "most are comfortable with local councillors," says Lucas. With any transfer of respon- sibility this large, there are a few bugs to be worked out. 'There are some things we're working towards solving." The memo from the OAOA asks municipal governments to evaluate the "local environ- ment" and suggests it examine the quality of service currently being provided. In most cases ambulance service throughout the province has been provided in a high quality, professional manner. And the guidelines the ambulance association gives to local governments are actually based on U.S. models where a competitive system has been in place for years. "The market providers have served people well for years," says Lucas. And locally, "the quality of service and clinical sophistication have been very good in Huron County and ser- vices in Huron County have been fiscally responsible." '"The quality of service won't change for the patient," says the owner of the Zurich, Clinton and Seaforth ambu- lance service. "It may improve it." Competitive Process If the county opted for open- ing a competitive bid process, Lucas pointed out that the "request for proposal" bidding system is a lot different than the tendering system used now by municipalities and the county for various services. In the request for proposal, decision makers look at "inge- nuity" and "value added" items, says Lucas. Among those extra services offered by the local ambulance is "critical incident stress debriefing" for doctors, nurses, police, ambu- lance personnel, fire fighters involved in critical situations where there are resulting psy- chological effects (for exam - kindergarten will not normal- ly be eligible to submit claims for the early learning grant. However, in some instances, boards may wish to provide junior kindergarten in part of their jurisdiction and claim the early learning grant for the remaining part." Still, despite this being pos- sible, some administration warned trustees to be careful of putting too much weight in a phantom program on which the board hadn't received any details. "There's no program that exists right now," administra- tor Susan Burke said. "It's not to say in the future that some- thing great won't be put together, but right now there's nothing, only money." Trying to come up with a middle ground, some trustees wondered if the board could implement junior kinder- garten for the 1998/99 year, and then, if the new grant proved to be a beneficial pro- gram, consider it for the fol- lowing school year. "To achieve equity right now, could we offer (junior kindergarten) this year, and then have the year to look at alternatives?" Trustee Wendy Anderson asked. However, Wood stated that she thought this would not be a good option, as it wouldn't be fair to implement junior kindergarten only to cancel it a year later. There's no way I want to implement junior kinder- garten and then pull it," Wood said. "If we choose JK, then we choose JK." Trustee Ray Ford was also concerned with being fair, only he noted his problem was with one part of the dis- trict having what the other didn't. "Here's something that we offer in one part, but not in another part," Ford said. He added that when the old Perth board had to cancel their partially implemented junior kindergarten, it was only because they didn't have the money to continue the program. "I'm seeing this as a way to put things back the way they were," Ford stated. Anderson noted that many of her Perth constituents also want to see junior kinder- garten put back into the schools. "The fact is that people who had junior kindergarten were very happy with it, and are clamoring to get it back," she said. Trustee Bob Allan, who later made the recommenda- tion that junior kindergarten be extended to Perth schools, also noted his support for the program. Still, it wasn't enough to pass his motion, and the deci- sion to extend the junior kindergarten to Perth was nar- rowly defeated at the April 14 meeting. Now, however, if trustees vote to bring the issue back to the table, the debate could start all over. The AMDSB press release that announced this develop- ment also noted that if the question of introducing junior kindergarten is turned down again, then the matter can't be entertained for at least three months. MPP, educators at Exeter forum BY ELLEN DOUGLAS Lakeshore Advance staff writer EXETER — As a parent, Helen Johns would like to see more money go into the Avon Maitland District School Board. But as Member of Provincial Parliament for Huron County, Johns said the province's new funding formula for education is a good start. Johns, along with Perth MPP Bert Johnson, AMDSB chair Abby Armstrong, and AMDSB director Paul Carroll, were answering questions at the Second Joint School Council Forum. by Ontario The Forum, which consisted of workshops and a question and answer period, was held Saturday at South Huron District High School in Exeter. During the question and answer period, the four panel members were asked how the province's fair funding model would affect education in the AMDSB. Johns responded that there was a fair amount of interest across the province in keeping funding equitable. "There will be winners and losers across- the province," she said. "(The AMDSB) received a few more dollars as a result of being a frugal board." 'positive' direction ple, dealing with the victims of a fatal car accident). "A session is held after- wards," said Lucas. The pro- gram was originally estab- lished by the Goderich hospi- tal. The local ambulance provider is involved in com- mittees of hospitals in Huron, including Exeter, Clinton and Seaforth. Other extras performed by the Zurich Ambulance Service is an ongoing, random moni- toring of the village of Zurich' streets when an ambulance is returning from a call late at night or early in the morning. Zurich ambulance has done this as a courtesy for years but with the need for community policing because of increased break-ins in the rural area, this simple procedure could serve as a deterrent to crime. As well Zurich Ambulance offers CPR courses for the public and fire departments. "We've been busy lately. We've had three regular cours- es within the last couple of months," said paramedic Jerry Hetherington. "The ambulance has always provided a dual function," said Lucas. "Emergency and non- emergency transport." The ambulance service works closely with other emergency agencies, like fire and police departments, and has a "good alliance with public health." "If people have medical problems but underlying social problems, that's when we get into working with public agen- cies," says Lucas. "Even though we're a sepa- rate entity, we work coopera- tively with doctors, the VON, local hospitals, nursing homes, long term care agencies and the public in general. "We've expanded the scope of our practice so our para- medics are providing more and more in the field, providing things that historically have been provided in emergency departments," said Lucas. He says his company is also trying to move more aggres- sively into health awareness using the media as an access to the public with campaigns like 'helmet safety' and being more proactive about health care rather than reactive. Confident in Service He is not too concerned if the county does opt to open com- petition for ambulance service in the area. His company works very closely with the communities it serves and other health care providers. Even if somewhere down the road legislation allows for large U.S. ambulance compa- nies to compete locally in Canada, Lucas says he's not afraid "to be compared to the best in the world." "If I'm doing the very best I can, there shouldn't be any- thing to worry about. We're a progressive county, we're Huron County based and we're community oriented." However, she added that the board must be cautious that student enrollment does not keep dropping. "Is it perfect? No," said Johnson of the new funding formula. "Is it an improve- ment? You bet." Carroll said that while he is not going to declare the fund- ing model is the best thing to happen to education in Ontario, he is not going to condemn it either. He said one of the areas of concern is the addition of five days to the school year. "Knowing that transportation is one of the greatest propor- tions of the spending budget, has provision been made for the extra days of bussing?" asked a member of the audi- ence. Helen Johns responded that while there are not as many double bus routes as there used to be, there is still room for some amalgamation of bus routes between the separate and public school boards. She said that since the board will be receiving more money for non -classroom expenses, some of this money can be allocated to transportation. "I'm sure that there are some savings that can be found," she said. "I'm not sure that there are enough." Annual meeting this Saturday The Van Egmond Foundation will hold their annual general meeting on Saturday, April 25, at 6:30 p.m. at the Van Egmond House, Edmondville. Bob Meyer of Meyer Heritage Cohsultants, Inc., will speak at 7:30 p.m. on "Bridging Cultural Horizons: Archaeological Excavations at the Bluewater Bridge, Sarnia." Meyer has super- vised various archaeological digs at the Van Edmond House Reserve which is a registered archaeological site. Prior to the meeting, a pot luck supper will be enjoyed at 5 p.m. REIKI An Ancient Energy Balancing Technique promoting relaxation, natural healing d transformation. First Degree Certification Course Saturday, May2, 9 am -5 pm - Bayfield Reiki Master eacher - Phyllis Lodge FORGIVENESS A workshop for personal peace & harmony through release of the past. Wednesday, May 13, 7-10 pm - Bayfield Instructor - Phyllis Lodge For information/registration please contact Janet Harris - Co-ordinator - (519) 565-2466 Community Calendar WED., APR. 22 MON., APR. 27 THURS., APR. 23 9:00-10:00 a.m. - Fitness with Drusilla at the Arena 7:00-8:00 p.m. - Aeroblce/Step with Sue at the Arena FRI., APR. 24 10:30-11:30 a.m. • Preschool Story Hour at the Seaforth Branch Library SAT, APR. 25 9:00 p.m. - Seaforth Minor Hockey 10,000. Draw and Dance at the Arena SUN. , APR. 26 7:30 p.m. -10:30 p.m. - Minor • Sports Council Bingo at the Arena - Tonight's host is Seeforth Ringette TUES. , APR. 28 9:00.10:00 a.m. - Fitness Is Fun at the Arena with Drusilia 1:30 p.m. - Senior Games - Carpet Bowling at the Arena 7:00.6:00 p.m. • Dog Obedience at the Arena WED., APR. 22 1:30-4:00 p.m. - Senior Shuffleboard at the Arena K youl'a organizing a nonprofit went of interest to otter 9eefath arse residents, phone the recreation office 5270 $2 or the Expositor et 527-0240, or mail the information to Calendar, The Huron Exposits; Box 89, %afath, Oraero, fel( 1Y well in adwoe of the eched.$$d date. Free feting includes date. time. name of event and location only Specs for the Community Calendar is donated by The Haar Expositor.