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Huron Expositor, 2002-03-06, Page 82 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, March 7, 5001 News Ag school organizers ask for commitment of board From Page 1 commitment of this board," she explained. Asked about a statement that representatives of the University of Guelph had offered -support for the plan, Agar explained that support was pledged two years ago, when the idea was first devised. She also said she received five telephone calls at the time, from people who looked up her name in the phone directory after becoming aware of the idea through the media. But she insisted such support would still be forthcoming. "You will be perceived as innovators," she told trustees. Students in the program would be billeted with area farm families, with the students paying room and board. Stepping Stones would be available to students in their final year of high school, and would offer co -op -style employment opportunities as well as specially -designed academic and technological courses featuring additional concentration on agriculture - related themes. Runners training in all weather From Page 1 They've also been out in the wind and freezing rain and Murray says Devereaux is taking advantage of this year's snowy winter weather by cross country skiing as a part of her training for the marathon. "If we do it in these conditions, we should be able to run through anything. The long distance runs are feeling really good and everybody's getting excited," says Murray. While the women were originally going to run in the Boston Marathon to fulfill personal dreams, Murray says running for a cause puts a little more pressure on the runners. "Now that the race is being used as a fundraiser, we're going to be crawling across the finish line if we have to," she says. Seaforth Community Hospital is planning a seniors' wellness centre as part of a district - wide plan that each of the eight Huron -Perth hospitals create their own centre of excellence. The Seaforth hospital board recently gave a planning committee the go-ahead to plan a geriatric centre of excellence, which could include an indoor swimming pool for exercise, physiotherapy and arthritis treatment, an assessment unit to enhance the current nursing and rehabilitation services at the hospital with social work and speech therapy services and improved outpatient services with the addition of osteoarthritis; nutrition and fitness services for seniors. "We want to promote the whole concept of wellness, with seniors able to stay in their homes as long as possible and making sure we have a healthy comm unity with this campaign. The slogan is 'Running for Excellence,"' says Anderson. School closures could be back on board's agenda by April By Stew Slater Special to The Expositor Students, parents and staff within the Avon Maitland District School Board will not face the prospect of school closures this school year. But the board's director of education says final decisions on a new round of closures could come as early as "some time around Christmas next year." Executive director Lorne Rachlis made the comment after superintendent of education Bill Gerth delivered a staff report entitled "Current Enrolment and Accommodation Data" at the board's regular meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 27. The report notes that the board is currently in the third year of a five-year accommodation review and planning cycle," and highlights several constraints which, in the past, have been associated with the need to consider school closures. These constraints include declining enrolment, the elimination of the five-year high school curriculum, and a strictly -defined provincial funding formula. The five-year "planning cycle" was the source of last year's board decision to close six schools, and it included a projection to close "possibly two schools in central/north Huron proposed (by) June, 2001." However, precedent has already been set for a retreat from the plan. The board fell significantly short of initial 1999-2000 projections when a subsequent staff report reversed the potential closure of Downie Central Public School and a citizen - based court challenge successfully saved Seaforth District High School (SDHS). And though the original five-year plan was included in information packages for the Feb. 27 meeting -- complete with the projected closure of Downie Central and SDHS -- Gerth was careful to stress it is no longer valid. "The expectation is that this process will include a new five-year plan," Gerth said. Largely in response to last year's SDHS court challenge, Avon Maitland trustees recently approved a revised process for community involvement in school closure decisions. The timelines of that process would make it difficult for the board to successfully close a school by June, 2001. Gerth confirmed this difficulty, stating, "the process would have to unfold over the next year apd a half." However, his report shows the board could begin the process. as early as April, when the second part of this new document is tabled. At that time, it's possible that community-based study groups could be formed, putting the potential school closure process into motion. "In addition to projected enrolment and accommodation data, this report will present recommendations on how to proceed with the Student Accommodation Process including, if appropriate, the creation of Community Accommodation Study Committees," Gerth's report states. 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