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Clinton News-Record, 1985-5-29, Page 2Page 2—CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 1985 erth may get Catholic high school Huron has to wait By Stephanie Levesque A further two year delay for a Catholic gh school in Huron County and making St. Michael's in Stratford a 1igh shcool are the recommendations made by the Huron -Perth Roman Catholic separate school board's high school planning committee on May 13. The board heard the committee's presen- tation, but will not make a decision on the future of Catholic high school education in both counties until Tuesday, May 21. Last fall the school board agreed to delay star- ting a Catholic high school in the system un- til September 1986. The committee's recommendation for Huron County calls for religious education credits to be offered starting in September of 1986 or sooner if requested. However, the committee hasn't ruled out completely the possibility of a Catholic high school in Huron. It has recommended that a high school be considered for Sept. 1, 1988. The delay is recommended for a number of reasons, including an insufficient number of interested students and parents and more information on the use of shared facilities: "The survey also revealed particularly in the comments area that although Catholic ratepayers and parents favored the concept of a Catholic secondary education in Huron County, they either did not understand or were not in favor of the school -within -a - school concept at Central Huron secondary school in Clinton," . said John McCauley, superintendent of education. The committee suggests that, during the two year wait, the board find out if students now in Grade 5 in Huron would be willing to register their children for a Catholic high school in 1988. According to the survey recently filled out by 306 Huron parents, 51 present Grade 5 students would enroll in a Catholic high school. There were 44 students indicated for a Grade 9 class four this September. More information on shared facilities should be gathered during this time, the committee suggests. It recommends visiting other schoolboards where facilities are shared. In Perth County, the committee recom- mended going ahead with its original plan to set up a Catholic high school at St. Michael's. The Stratford school now houses only Grade 7 and 8 students. The plans call for that school population to would have to be moved when the high school starts. Superintendent Gaeten Blan- chette said St. Aloysius is being considered for the French immersion classes. Anether ramification anticipated in the Stratford Catholic system is having Grade 7 and 8 classes return to the four remaining Catholic schools in the city. The report outlines the committee's wish that once the high school and other schools are full, a gymnasium, library and The connments from those saying they will send their children indicated most agreed philosophically with Catholic education and don't mind sharing facilities with Central Huron students. "Sharing the facilities at Clinton will help the students to learn to live in this world of Catholics and non-Catholics," was one writ- ten comment. The negative comments in Huron centre around the busing and sharing of facilities. "Too far to bus in Huron County." The committee's recommendations were made after 893 questionnaires were turned in. In Huron County, 306 parents answered, with 168 saying they will send their child. extend to Grade 9 in 1986 with an estimated 64 students. That number of students was in- dicated from the questionnaire. St. Michael's was originally built as a high school and has 11 classrooms and one fully equipped science lab -classroom. There are also a library, lockers, gymnasium and guidance and health rooms. A separate building on the site, a former gospel hall which if renovated, could be used for industrial arts or family., studies. Ten- tative plans call for the gallery above the gym to be used as a cafeteria. The committee's report also addresses 'the parents' concern for the lack of a track. The report says space is adequate for soccer and track and field. Besides being close to city parks and the downtown core, the local YMCA is a stone's throw away. If approved by the board, the plan to be submitted to the ministryof education sug- gests that the French immersion classes, starting this September in St. Michael's AINIEVIRMINENIMats classrooms be added to two schools. Direc- tor of Education William Eckert said no specific schools have been identified. The committee did, recommend that the board "make a full study" of the building needs in the city. This study is to be presented to the board by June of 1987. It is expected that the study will use the informa- tion gathered a year ago when a full accom- modation study was prepared. The committee's recommendations were made after 893 questionnaires were turned in. Mr. Eckert said 2,500 copies of the ques- tionnaire were distributed throughout schools and churches. in the two counties and there are about 1,500 families in the separate school system. The questionnaire returns represent about 60 per cent of the separate school families. In Huron County, 3,06 parents answered,' with 168 saying they will send their child to a Catholic high school and 110 saying they wouldn't. "Part of -Clinton high school is not feasi- ble...build your own school." Of the 168 that said they would register their children, 106 said they would be willing to have their children transported at least 20 km. to school. The number of students drops by more than half to 48 students, when the mileage increases to 40 km. The positive comments in Perth again share the Catholic philosophy. "We rely on a Catholic secondary school to assist us in imparting values and tradi- tions of our faith." The negative comments in Perth centre mainly around the effect on the public system and busing. "Another high school in Stratford - not necessary." "Too far away." The number of undecided comments are higher in Perth, said Mr. McCauley. "We will sit back and see how successful the school is before enrolling our first child in 1991." Statistically, 254 parents said they would register their children in a Catholic high school in Stratford. Of that, 161 said they would be willing to have their children transported at least 20 km. Double that distance to 40 km. and only 22 parents said they would transport their children that far. Trustee Ron Murray of Dublin asked for a complete report on the funding of a Catholic high school in the two counties. Mr. Eckert presented the estimated operating costs of a Catholic high school at just over $400,000 for one year without in- cluding transportation costs. There were harsh words between Mr. Murray and the director when Mr. Eckert questioned what exactly the trustee wanted in the financial report. "Every conceivable cost," replied Murray. "I don't care what a secondary school costs. To deny us as a board that in- formation is petty." "I can't deny any information to the board," said Mr. Eckert. "But my first questions is additional costs to whom. Do you want a netting out of that cost (to the Catholic school board and the public school board) or do you just want our additional costs?" WEEKLY WEATHER May 1985 1984 21 13 3 23 5 22 16 1 26 12 23 22 4 20 8 24 25 8 23 12 25 23 8 20 9 26 21 14 6 2 27 19 15 16 4 Rain 41mm 62mm tl QUALITY SERVICE STORE HOURS Mon,Tuef, Wed. 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