The Goderich Signal-Star, 1985-11-06, Page 28Sys
�Dy
aR]
1".
Yiy
AQa
fn
WART OF DOVO4TOWN VARNA'
182-7103
or +t� � EwovJr
Would like their customers
to be aware of the
FALL FIRE
HYDRANT
FLUSHING
Starting
MONDAY, NOVEMBER
4, 1985
For 2 Weeks
9A.M. -4 P.M.
If you are experiencing rust in your water,
this is only temporary. Please run your water
for a few minutes and the rust will stop.
TOWN OF GOERICH
PUBLIC MEMORIAL
SERVICE FOR SEAMEN
Who lost their lives in the
Great Lakes storm in
November, 1913.
TIME: Saturday, Nov. 9, 1985
3:00 p.m.
PLACE: Maitland Cemetery
Unknown Seamen's Plot
Should inclement weather result the service
will be held in the Mausoleum.
John Doherty
Deputy -Reeve
Chairman
Parks & Waterfront Committee
e ratepayers of the town of Goderieh
'.one trustee, to- the Hurbn County
altf '
Of Edueation. The incumbent,
l orothy Wallace, has served as a trustee
,for almost 30 years and has been a
mepber of the county board since its
mcepjtfon in 1960. She faces a stiff
• Challenge from Mary Ann Dempsey, a
teacher's college graduate and mother of
two children,
MARY ANN DEMPSEY
As a former teacher, mother of two
children and a volunteer educator at the
elementary school level, Mary Ann
Denppsey's exposure to the education
system is extensive.
Recognizing that trustees that are the
link between the education system and
parents, Dempsey says it was both timing
and issues that prompted her to run in the
1985 municipal election.
"There has to be a measure . of
interaction with parents and teachers and
the administrative staff and teachers,"
she said. "The trustee has to be the link
with parents."
Her involvement with the education
system as teacher, patent, volunteer and
spokesperson has given Dempsey some
insight into the education system at the
school and administrative level.
While her first priority as trustee would
be to work to improve the quality of
education, Dempsey will also strive to
provide strong vocal representation,
improve communications, provide cost-
effective education, standardize board
policy and provide progressive education.
With respect to improving
communications between parents,
teachers and the board, Dempsey
proposes establishing liason committees
at schools to discuss concerns.
"Parents are often intimidated to speak
to teachers or the board. Improved lines of
communication will be realized by setting
up liason committees in our schools. They
should consist of general representation of
parents from all grade levels," she said.
More than just a complaint department,
Dempsey envisions the committee as a
support group for school fund raising and
understanding between home and school.
The county system must keep pace with
educational opportunities but the board,
she suggests, must be realistic with its
offerings and live within its finances. "We
must provide cost-effective, quality
education."
Education policies differ from school to
school, Dempsey says, and advocates
standard educational policies across the
school system.
"Administrators must be made
accountable to parents and trustees for
maintaining high standards," she
explained. "There are variances in policy
and procedure throughout the system and
I feel that administration should be
providing more leadership " and
supervision to ensure that only the best
policies are being implemented
throughout the system."
School boards in the province are
grappling with prospect of a dual high-
school system as funding is extended to
Mary Ann Dempsey
separate schools. Dempsey says it is a
necessary step, but one that may be
divisive for Huron County.
"The population base in Huron is too
small and widely dispersed and a
duplication of services would decrease
quality," she said. "We should be opert to
religion in schools in an ecumenical
society but to be divisive in a school
system goes in the opposite direction."
While lauding the philosophy behind the
French Immersion program, Demspey
says it cannot be implemented at the
expense of the school system.
"French Immersion is magnificent. But,
you have to look at every individual
situation and study the ramifications it
will have on the mainstream. If the
ramifications are negative, the
mainstream has to be considered. It's good
to sit and take a look at it."
Dempsey, 37, and the mother of two
boys, says she can offer strong vocal
representation at the board level. "I will
investigate and prepare for issues and
promote my position. I will take a stand
and vocally promote that position."
DOROTHY WALLACE
Dorothy Wallace has served the
ratepayers of Goderich as trustee to the
Huron County Board of Education since its
inception in 1967. She has a total of nearly
30 years experience, having served `on the
local school board for 10 years before the
formation of county boards.
The implementation off Bill 82, which
stipulates that the special education needs
of all children must be addressed by in-
dividual boards,- was an issue the Huron
Board dealt with in its past term. Wallace
suggests school boards must wary of
squeezing out one segment of students.
"I don't want the money spent on special
needs to get out of proportion. The govern-
ment pays two-thirds of the cost but the
rest comes from us," she said. "We tend to
squeeze money and I'm just worried about
the middle-of-the-road kids suffering."
The Huron board has also explored the
possibility of establishing a French Im-
mersion program and while it deferred,
Wallace said trustees had to face the r,eali
ty of costs;
T'ransportatton and iimplenientation
costs were frightening. I'm disappointed it
didn't, go Ahead but we have to face reali-
ty; there just wasn't, enough groundswell
support." :
I�oard trustees were also I involved in
establishing a school: within the Bluewater
Centre for young'' offenders, a program
that is entirely funded by the Ministry of
Correctional Services. Wallace said it has
provided additional opportunities for
teachers while providing an education for
young offenders. "The kids get individual
attention and the thrust of the program is
to get kids back on their feet."
Extending government funding to
separate high schools could lead to pro-
blems for the public education system
Wallace said.
"It will be interesting to see the legisla-
tion. Timbrell has said if funding is extend-
ed to Roman Catholic schools then, they
should be accessible to anybody
regardless of religion," she said. "It may
be that the province will have to fund other
schools and the public education system
could fall apart."
With a budget that will approach $40
million in the 1986-87 fiscal year, Wallace
said the Huron County board is still pro-
viding quality education for the cost to the
taxpayer.
"Our schools are doing a good job and
the students from Huron County are highly
rated at the university level," she said.
"We have a good reputation and are known
for producing good students."
Wallace also has confidence in the ad-
ministration of the education system in
Huron.
"We have a good team of administrators
who are out to improve the skills of staff
and provide training as well."
Election '85
Joan Van den Broeck seeks third
term on Huron Board of Education
The ratepayers of Goderich and
Colborne Townships will be asked to
choose between two candidates seeking
the one seat on the Huron County Board of
Education. Joan Van den Broeck and
Alfred Etzler,pitlii of Colborne Township,
are the candidates for the position of
school board trustee. The Signal -Star
contacted the Etzler home but the
candidate did not respond.
JOAN VAN DEN BROECK
First elected to the board of education in
1980, Van den Broeck has completed two
terms and five years as the trustee to the
townships. That experience, she contends,
will have an impact on her effectiveness as
a trustee.
"I have learned the intricacies of
provincial administration and have
become atuned to the nature of problems
in education," she said. "I have learned
where I can have an impact on the system
and my experience has made me more
confident of the system to meet the needs
of the children."
The largest single employer in Huror
County, the board's 1986-87 budget will
approach, if not exceed, $40 million. But
the taxpayers of the county are still getting
good value for their education dollar she
said.
"Salaries consume the major portion of
the budget and trustees have little
Turn to page 9A •
When you shop in the big city, you
risk life and limb on the highway . . . have
to fight heavy traffic, so you're tired
before you even get started.
Then come parking problems, elbowing
your way through crowds of people in a
hurry, try and find a place for lunch, gulp
it down, and back into the fray.
Then, after trying to deal with 'harassed
and impatient salespeople, you drag
yourself back to the car, hoping you
won't get run over crossing the busy
streets, and battle your way back home
again . . . worn, weary and with aching
feet . . . thinking of the cost of those
extra miles on your car.
Wouldn't it have been so much easier
to shop here at home?
Your friendly merchants at home
probably had just what you wanted any-
way . . . and often cheaper than city
stores. Certainly shopping at home is
easier and quicker, giving you time for
other, more important "chores!"
Sponsored by The Goderlah Sl Anal -Star. The Only Newspaper In The World That Cares About You!