Times Advocate, 1997-01-15, Page 3Tinter -Advocate, January 15, 1997 Page 3
Board narrowly votes in
favor of continuing J -K
At a cost of $61,000, the
board will continue to offer the
program for another year
CLINTON - Junior Kindergarten was saved from
the axe when Trustees of the Huron County Board
'of Education narrowly voted in favor of maintaining
the program on Monday.
Therecorded vote passed with nine for the mo-
tion, that called for continuation of the program' for
the next school year; and seven opposed.
Many trustees voiced concern •
with keeping the progarn at a local
cost of $61,000 and reminded the
hoard it recently passed a motion
to he returned if the program was discontinued. -As
well, trustees were informed enrollment in the pro-
gram has .increased' by approximately 23 per cent
between 1995/96 and 1996/97. -
Some trustees who were initially oppotied to tbe:J-
K program found themselves' struggling with the
decision after receiving substantial positive teed=
back from parents. • ' • . • .
"i am really concerned about- the children from
homes where parents are not concerned with educa-
tion;" said Trustee Bea Dawson. "1 have been
against the program sinee the beginnijtg but 1 come
here today with mixed feelings." .
Announcements Monday that'con-
• tinned speculation Huron and Perth -
"I am really- hoards would be merged. added to
concerned about the dilemna. According to Past Chair
maintain IK onlyif 11 resulted Roxanne Brown, -Perth does not;offer
to
. the children from J -K and she doubted an ;tnialgamated
in 'no local cost to the taxpayer.
The hoard and its trustees re homes where hoard would - he able institute the pro-
.ceived' many calls and letters •in-
• dicating support for both sides of
. the JK debate. Board Chair Allan
Carter, who voted in favor of the
motion, expressed ' concern about
making the decision to scrap the progam..
"Are we really doing what's fair for our students?"
he asked fellow hoard members.'
Although the Human Resources Coininittee listed
-merits of the program. including a low per-ptepil
cost,, Nome had difficulty- swallowing the. in
formation without supporting, documentation. The
committee reported' the program reduces the
amount of Special Education intervention required
in later years:as well as costs'to society.
"i have td -you're not interested in saving ,programs..,"_, said
say. that these facts arc questionable,"
. said Trustee Abby Armstrong., "i would -really like Clarke, who•was permiucd to speak hehire the nuc -
to see the research." tion was called to a vote.
11 was Clear many hoard members wrestled with Student trustees wi►try that maintaining the 1-K •
making the decision whether to keep or scrap the -
•
program, although it. may ,have educational merit,
program. It should he noted capital grants in the ' would take away from secondary ,programs. Trus-.
amrnmt of $300:000 allocated for J -K projects halve tees arc also concerned dollars %you'd he 1 iken°out .
e had
of otherprogr.0 . u, order. to support J -K.."
net yet been spent and this money would hav
- parents are not granrthroughout its jurisdiction.
concerned with . •• "If we're `one "hoard, we have to
» have the same programs," she said. "1
education. , . -don't believe we can afford to put 1:-
K
=K in all thoseschools."'
Teachers Federation . representative John Clarke
expressed dismay.(hat tete: hoard would:consider
cutting programs wtten teacher ha__e_ ctepted Con-
cessions such as wage freezes on the basis of saving ..
programs: - ,
"It really interested -me to know that this. board
voted to .give, a- golden' handshake of $45.(X)0.
which is almost the entire cost of. this J -K program
that benefits almost 200 kids. if that's the inessagc
you want to .sent - to Inc and my members...that
Soldan resigns in frustratio
•Continued from front-page
Due to the weather, Thursday's
meeting - was cancelled- and the
Board will elect- sl new chairperson
and vice Chairperson at a re-
scheduled meeting tommorrow'
(Thursday). •
Lynne' Farquh'ar. recreatioh di-
rector.: said -Soldan will he re-
membered for his' many► ac-
complishntcnts.in getting the Rec.'
C'entre's building•in physical work-
ing eondiuton after the_ facility was
first` conslrifcted and for his ad- -
vocacy in getting the warm room
built.
"He really - pushed, for .that warM-.
room," said Farquhar. "His, long-
term dedication to the Board was
appreciated by many members of
the community and • he certainly
will he missed." "
Soldan said he offered to assist
the committee in its flllllre ended\
•
ors. het for now he will'turnhis-hill
Attention towards. his involvement
with the"Exeter Ir. "n" Hawks and
-the. Juvenilc.Chiefs. •
"The, Hawks are having another
successful Year and I've"really been
enjoying the juvenile hockey." Sol
-
Ann said. _'1 feel ,like 'I'm' on hockey
aloud nine and the aggravation of •
the
Rec: Board is t'ar'•heneath that
c laird'"
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WINDOW AND DOOR CENTRE
4
ALL OF US AT D & D GLASS AND DASHWOOD
WINDOW AND DOOR CENTRE THANK YOU FOR
YOUR BUSINESS THE PAST YEAR. WE LOOK
FORWARD TO 1997.
arence ergte erguson. ! arg
Dave Miller.
SEATED L -R: Rob Fickling, Tony Van Dyke.
-INSET LOWER LEFT: Rick Parsons
Andersen
Use our toll-free number
1-800-524-6616
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WINDOWS SALES
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SONG 4NSTALLATION
1st Avenue, VANASTRA
482.7869
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PROFESSIONAL SALES • SERVICE • INSTALLATION
Municipalities cope with more
reductions to provincial giants
HURON, LAMBTON, NORTH
MIDDLESEX -- ' Municipalities
across the province received no-
tices last month detailing- exactly
What dollar figures will be attached
to funding reductions for 1997. All
local' municipalities are dealing
with more reductions in provincial
transfer payments after the •prov-
"ince announced the finalstage of a
two:year funding plan- which will
distribute 1.7 Killion among 800
Ontario municipalities. .
Exeter , will --' get
$302,870 in • transfer,
payments for 1997.
The loss of $129.2$9
represents a 29.92 per
cern - reduction which
translates into a Iwo -
year cut of 42.5F per
cent.
'That's high compared
to other,' urban areas," said -Clerk-.
Elizabeth Bell adding Coderich's
reduction- is only 10 per cent'.high-
er. "We are going to, cut services or
Pike taxes...1 don't know...where
-else-the-a:►uings.arc goingto i,!)
Omni," she said.
Administrator Rick-Htrndey said
the towns were bit hard liecause (he
9:5 -,per cent cap. based on the mu-
nicipal levy; is mttch:higher (Kan
the townships: '
"i1 (the reduclionl‘ is a •hig -prop=
!em and it gives us more incentive
to carry through with internal -re-.
structuring. But it's too early to.tell
if it will cause a rise in taxes,"said.
Hundey.adding that layoffs through
attrition and contracting out. is•pos-
sihle. .
said.
Hensall is -facing a reduction of .
41 per centThis year which
amounts to $29,942. •
Clerk Luanne Phair said the vil-
:lags was hit just as bard last year,
adding council .will discuss the im-
pact. -on this year's "-budget 'at the -
'next council meeting. -
Grand Bend will receive
$69,843 in transfer payments for -
1997, a $42,528. reduction from last
•
•
always had money to do road -Work
but •it's getting to the point .now
where that work may not get done."
Prost said it doesn't come as a
surprise - because the village's re-
duction was supposed to be higher
last year, This year they are only re-
ceiving 5156,675. .
"We don't want to raise ta)es but
this is going to make thinF:s dif-
ficult," she said.
Biddulph Township's support
grant. for 1997 is $207,609 which
represents a grant reduction
of 9.5_ per cent of the
municipal' levy. " This
amounts to a .$47,461
Toss of revenue to the -.
Township of . Bid
dulph. -
Larry-Hotson,
Clerk -Treasurer
hasn't prepared the budget
for 1997 but said the ,reduction
have a broad- impact on -the 'mu-
nicipality. mu-nicipality. - - -
"This is going to hurt - every
7.
body." he said. t
• year.
"Thirty=eight per cent:is a major
• hit." said Administrator Paul, Turn -
'bull. "I don't know. what we're go-
ing to do to make that up, but we're
rhe oingati have to lies. with it.'_
Zurich will have -to .cope with
$9569 less this year. Clerk •Mau-
reen Simmons said the cut comes'
as no surprise as it adheres to the
govcrnrrient formula which slates.
the reduction can't he any more -
than, 9.5.' per- cent of the municipal _
' levy. ,
"The figures :arc not as great (as --
other ,municipalities) taut the impact
un ,9t1r.taxpaycrs is the same." she
Osborne Township is looking at
'a transfer payment cut. of $33,360
for 1997 which represents if 12.9
per cent reduction. •
Pat Down; Reeve of'tJshorne said
this will affect thetownship'sroad
building- program and has asked the
road -superintendent to submit a -ha-
•-sic.service budget this year to cope
With tris reduction.. .
.-"The servr'ces . a' lower tier. -11-m.:-.:
,nicipality. *Vides' are .very basic.
and if.wc have to reduce services it
will be felt - itnmediately," said
Down adding the only alternative is
-to reduce Services; or raise, taxes.
"Being a politician is not fun -any-
more.,, . _ -
Lucan has been bit hard this
Year. With a reduction Of 15 per
cern the village. is facing a.$27,624
reduction for 1997:
."It's going to liavc a hig impact,"
said Treasurer Ruth Frost: "We'$.
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McGillivra o ship -wilt -get - -
a $253,969 entitlement from the
province this year which represents -
a 9.5 per cem grant reduction of tie
municipal levy. - . '
"We are going to have to come
up with $51,000 (to offset there -
duction)," said Clerk Shirley Scott.
Stephen Township administrator
- Larry Brownsaid the municipality -
- will - lose $79,500 'in the coming
year which represents a reduction _
of 23 per cent. -
"They have been telling us .all
along • that we're: -'going to get a
• bigger reduction and that was pret-
sty much what we expected," said -
'Brown adding that ends up being
-10 per cent ofthe local - levy which
translates into a two -per cent in-
crease on -a ratepayer's. tax bill:
"We are going to try to absorb that
by trying to" find some savings in -
this year's budget.":-
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