Bill Buckler chosen to fill vacancy on council
By Monica Whitney - Journal Staff Writer
MAITLAND It took more than a year after campaigning
in the municipal election, but Bill Buckler has finally won a
seat on Augusta Township council.
The Roebuck-area resident was sworn in as a councillor Monday
night at MERC Hall in Maitland following a unanimous council
decision he was the best person for the job.
The council seat was left vacant last month when Deputy Reeve
Morris Stark resigned because of health concerns. Also at the
Monday meeting, Doug Barton was moved up from councillor to the
deputy reeve position.
Buckler said following the swearing-in ceremony he was pleasantly
surprised and pleased by the appointment. He noted he made a
serious bid in the Nov. 2000 election, and remains enthusiastic
about the job. "I feel it's a good township and I feel a
part of it. I look forward to working with the council,"
Buckler said, adding he hopes to settle into the new role before
beginning the 2002 budget deliberations.
The new councillor is employed by the Upper Canada District
School Board as a building systems specialist and is vice-president
of CUPE Local 5678 for the Leeds-Grenville section. He has 20
years involvement with unions, and would like to bring some of
this expertise to the council table. He recognizes there are
some concerns currently facing council, and hopes he can help.
For the past nine years, he has been president of the Roebuck
Education and Recreation Association.
Buckler had recently obtained 200 names on a petition to help
secure his place as the new councillor, because, he said, he
did not want to take any chances at losing the seat.
The township had four options from which to choose to fill
the council vacancy. Buckler had received the highest number
of votes of defeated councillor candidates in last year's election.
Other options included calling a by-election, making an outright
appointment, or advertising for resumes.
Council changed the location of the regular meeting from Maynard
to MERC Hall to handle an expected large number of delegations
to speak on the issue of filling the seat. However, only Mary
Daw of Maynard was scheduled to make a presentation.
She championed Buckler, and encouraged council to choose somebody
tough who knows the issues and the people, and who has the support
of the residents. It would be wrong for council to arbitrarily
choose a councillor or pick through resumes to find a replacement.
Daw also advised council to be careful in its decision. "We
need some backbone; we need some leadership, and we need it now."
Reeve George Vail cautioned the cheering crowd, suggesting
even though he welcomed input into the decision, council would
put the final stamp on it. "You should have faith in your
council here," he said.
Councillor Jane Fullarton threw her support behind Buckler,
noting he had faired well in the last election garnering
1,124 votes and is an active and well-known member of the
community.
Barton said Buckler ran a good campaign and had the support
of the voters. "The people already decided," Barton
said.
OCCOPS denies request to disband town police
service
By Tim Ruhnke - Journal Editor
PRESCOTT The Town of Prescott has yet to receive
approval to disband its municipal police service.
The Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services (OCCOPS)
indicated in a decision issued Dec. 5 there are unresolved issues
which must be addressed before disbandment of the Prescott Police
Service can be approved. OCCOPS has indicated it is prepared
to reconsider its decision if certain conditions are met by Jan.
14.
One of those conditions involves the fact the OPP is unwilling
to offer employment to one of Prescott's officers, Constable
Darren Davis. Other town constables have been offered employment
with the provincial service.
Davis's status drew a great deal of attention at the OCCOPS
hearing held Sept. 20 in Prescott. The lawyer for Davis and the
police association argued the OPP was not following protocol
by refusing to offer employment to Davis, a former OPP officer.
The OPP indicated it does not believe Davis meets a section of
the Police Service Act that requires officers to be "...of
good moral character and habits."
Davis was the subject of a public complaint in 1994. He was
later the subject of several criminal charges, all of which were
dropped in 1997. The OPP proceeded with eight disciplinary charges
of its own; however, those charges were dropped when a compensation
package was negotiated and Davis agreed to resign from the OPP
in May 2000.
Davis was interviewed a few weeks later for a vacancy on the
Prescott Police Service. He was offered the job.
"It would appear that this decision was based in part
upon favourable character references from the OPP," it is
stated in the OCCOPS decision.
The commission also notes there is no agreement in place with
respect to severance for town officers.
"Given the above noted unresolved issues, we are of the
opinion that it would not be appropriate to permit the abolition
of the Prescott Police Service," the decision states.
However, in noting the effort that has gone into the proposal
and the uncertainty facing employees, the panel goes on to state
it would be prepared to reconsider the decision if certain conditions
were met.
These conditions include the OPP and Davis agreeing to submit
to binding arbitration, the OPP advising all uniformed members
of the municipal service as to whether they have unconditional
offers of employment, and starting the process of determining
which civilian workers will be offered employment by the OPP.
Staff Sergeant Brent Hill told The Journal last Thursday
he was not surprised by the decision based on the representations
made at the hearing.
Hill said he does not see the OCCOPS ruling as a setback.
The situation will be evaluated and a decision on how to proceed
will be made at the OPP's corporate level, according to Hill.
The OPP argued at the hearing OCCOPS does not have the authority
to compel the OPP to offer employment to Davis or any officer.
Davis declined to comment on the OCCOPS decision.
The police service board discussed the situation with legal
counsel during a closed-door session Monday. Board secretary
Andrew Brown told The Journal the board is hoping to meet
with the OPP by early next week. The board is "...attempting
to resolve issues in the best interest of the community,"
Brown said.
The decision to proceed with obtaining an agreement with the
OPP was made by town council Jan. 2; the police services board
also approved the move. Prescott Mayor Robert Lawn said he is
frustrated the process has dragged on for almost a year and has
yet to be resolved. Lawn, who also serves on the police board,
said he regrets how the process is affecting town officers and
other police department staff.
The mayor said he is concerned the town is being "punished"
by the actions of other parties. The municipality has no direct
say in meeting the conditions set out in the OCCOPS decision,
according to Lawn.
Councillor Jim French, who is also a member of the police
board, said the ruling came as quite a shock. "They put
us in the middle of something we shouldn't be involved in,"
French said at a committee-of-the-whole meeting Monday.
"Hopefully, we can resolve it fairly quickly," he
added.
In terms of the adequacy of the services being proposed in
the town's submission, the commission gave its conditional approval.
The OPP is required to complete proposed renovations to cell
areas at the Prescott and Kemptville detachments by the end of
next year. Any changes to communications and dispatch arrangements
at the OPP communications centre in Perth during the term of
the town contract must be approved by OCCOPS.
New doctor to arrive next month
Dr. John Davies will work at family medical centre
PRESCOTT A family doctor will be setting up shop in
town early next year, the Leeds Grenville Physician Recruitment
Task Force announced Friday.
Dr. John Davies will open a practice in Prescott Jan. 16.
Davies will work in association with doctors Gunn Bhatt, George
Kellam and Anne Jaworski at the Prescott Family Medical Centre.
Task Force Co-Chair Bill Pakeman and Physician Recruiter Carlene
MacDonald told Prescott council early last week they expected
a family practitioner would be setting up a practice in Prescott
early in the new year.
Pakeman told The Journal Monday the town is fortunate
to have this addition to its medical community. The arrival of
Dr. Davies will help other physicians in town who are overworked,
according to Pakeman.
Several general physicians have established practices in the
Brockville area since the task force was formed last year. The
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has designated the area
underserviced in reference to the availability of family doctors.
Many general practitioners are expected to retire within the
next 10 years, and Pakeman insists the community must make an
effort to ensure they will be replaced.
The task force continues to seek funding from municipalities
and businesses in Leeds and Grenville. Pakeman explained the
success of the program has meant more money has been spent on
incentives and other related recruitment expenses.
"We've done a good job so far, but there is still a big
job to do," he said.
Davies, a graduate of the medical school at the University
of Saskatchewan, completed his residency at McGill in 1999. He
has been practising family and emergency medicine in Cornwall,
according to MacDonald.
Dr. Davies is now accepting new patients. For more information,
call 925-5977.
Food voucher program needs money
PRESCOTT A food bank is needed in Prescott, according
to the president of the Prescott Ministerial Association.
Reverend Blair Paterson expressed his views Monday during
a presentation to town council members at a committee-of-the-whole
meeting. Paterson, who wrote to council in November, reiterated
the association is running out of money.
The association issues food vouchers redeemable at valu-mart.
Paterson said the average monthly total is close to $700.
He explained the association received $10,000 from the Kinsmen
Club and its Spirit of Giving campaign. However, most of that
money has been spent and there was no money left over from last
year's campaign. Paterson said the association would not likely
be able to continue issuing vouchers after February without additional
funding sources.
"At this point, we're almost out of money," he commented.
In addition to donations from service clubs, Paterson estimates
an additional $4,000 per year would enable the association to
issue vouchers of $25 per person twice a year. Local clergy have
noted "quite an influx" of new clients in recent months,
the reverend noted. Steps are being taken to prevent abuse of
the system.
However, Paterson said he believes re-establishing a food
bank in Prescott would be a more effective way of dealing with
the problem. For example, food voucher recipients are now paying
retail prices for items they purchase at the store. A food bank
would accept donations and be able to obtain some food at wholesale
prices; some vouchers could still be issued in special situations,
according to Paterson.
Paterson stated his own belief the association and town could
form a partnership, adding the Dibble Street municipal building
could serve as a site for the food bank. The reverend also noted
some people may be more responsive to a more "secular"
food bank that is not run exclusively by churches.
The town's finance committee is reviewing the association's
request for funding. It was suggested Paterson ask Augusta and
Edwardsburgh/Cardinal councils for assistance. The possibility
of forming partnerships with existing service clubs is also being
considered.
THIS WEEK
Fire department appointments made
MAITLAND Lorne Dougherty will be the new chief of the
Augusta Township Fire Department.
The appointment was made at the Monday night meeting of council
at MERC Hall in Maitland. Dougherty has been a volunteer firefighter
for 35 years, 23 of those as the deputy.
Lindsay Penny, a 30-year veteran with the department, was
appointed to the deputy chief position.
The appointments became necessary following the retirement
of Fire Chief Fred Boisvert, a 42-year member of the department.
Santa will be available for photographs
PRESCOTT Photographer Christine Endicott will be at
Santa's Workshop this Saturday, Dec. 15 from 10 am to noon and
1 to 3 pm to get shots of Santa Claus with kids and/or pets.
Prints of the photos taken Saturday can be picked up a week
later at the Gift Lane.
The workshop, located on King Street West beside Prime Time
Video, is open Fridays from 4 to 7 pm, Saturdays from 10 am to
noon and 1 to 3 pm and Sundays from noon to 3 pm.
The workshop in downtown Prescott will close for the season
Sunday, Dec. 23.
Local merchants are pitching in to help Santa run the workshop.
Church hosts evening of Christmas music
SPENCERVILLE An evening of Christmas music will be presented
Sunday, Dec. 16 at 7:30 pm at Spencerville United Church.
Scheduled guests include concert organist Sharon Adams of
Johnstown and Reverend Sterling Irvine of Operation Go Home.
A free-will offering will be accepted. Music will be followed
by a social hour.
United Way continues to accept donations
LEEDS AND GRENVILLE The United Way would have come up
almost $58,000 short of its goal if the 2001 fundraising campaign
had ended on schedule.
A total of $592,144 91 per cent of the $650,000 target
had been raised as of Dec. 7, the original campaign completion
date. However, United Way officials in Leeds and Grenville decided
last month to extend the campaign through December.
Twenty-six agencies are supported under the United Way's funding
umbrella. An estimated 23,000 residents of the united counties
receive services from those agencies.
For more information or to make a donation, contact the United
Way office at 42 George Street (Box 576), Brockville, Ont., K6V
5V7.
The number to call is (613) 342-8889.
Flashing lights
proposed for intersection
PRESCOTT Town council will be asked next Monday to vote
on a resolution calling for flashing yellow and red traffic lights
at the intersection of King and St. Lawrence streets.
Some councillors have questioned the need for fully-functioning
red, yellow and green signals at that intersection, except possibly
during the summer months when the swimming pool is open. Councillor
Terry McConnell, who says some drivers speed up to avoid the
changing lights and others complain about having to wait for
the lights to change, is proposing flashing lights be tried around
the clock until next summer.
No council member who attended the committee-of-the-whole
meeting Monday spoke against the proposal.
McConnell, who also chairs the town's transportation and environmental
services committee, believes the municipality should consider
which sets of traffic lights are needed on King Street.
Township begins search for new chief building
official
MAITLAND A new chief building official and bylaw enforcement
officer for Augusta Township should be in place by mid-February,
it was announced at council's Monday meeting.
Councillor Jane Fullarton said the recent resignation of Greg
Trizisky is received with regret, and the township is extremely
sorry to be losing his services. Trizisky has been employed by
the township for two-and-a-half years. The resignation is effective
Jan. 4.
Trizisky had done a marvelous job executing his duties, Fullarton
said, and it will be difficult to replace his quality and quantity
of service. She also commented Augusta's loss will be a gain
for North Dundas Township, where Trizisky has accepted a position
as chief building official.
The position for Augusta Township will be posted, Fullarton
said.
OPP NEWS
Five people taken to hospital
AUGUSTA OPP officers were called Dec. 8 at about 2:35
am to a single-vehicle accident that occurred on Branch Road.
The vehicle was westbound when it failed to negotiate a curve,
entered the east ditch and rolled onto its roof, a police report
stated. The driver and four passengers were taken by ambulance
to Brockville General Hospital and treated for minor injuries.
Denise Navarrorios, 18, of Brockville, has been charged with
careless driving. Constable Chuck Doran is the investigating
officer.
Youths charged with drug possession
PRESCOTT Officers from the Grenville County OPP detachment
and Prescott Police Service visited South Grenville District
High School on the morning of Dec. 7 and conducted an investigation.
As a result of the investigation, two 16-year-old males and a
15-year-old male were charged with possession of a controlled
substance. OPP Constable George Duke is the investigating officer.
Vehicle stop leads to arrest
SPENCERVILLE Officers with the OPP detachment in Prescott
were on routine patrol in Spencerville at about 3 am Dec. 8 when
they stopped a vehicle for a Highway Traffic Act offence.
As a result of an investigation, David Vanstoken, 43, of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal
township, was arrested and charged with one count of refusing
to provide a breath sample. Sgt. Paul Bisson is the investigating
officer.
Assault complaint results in charges
EDWARDSBURGH OPP officers were called to a Glen Smail
Road residence Dec. 6 at 8 pm to investigate an assault complaint.
A 15-year-old female was arrested and charged with two counts
of assault and one count of breach of probation. A 34-year-old
woman and a 29-year-old woman received minor injuries, according
to police. Constable Elaine Barr is the investigating officer.
Arrests made at Festive RIDE checks
PRESCOTT Two arrests were made at a Festive RIDE check
conducted by Grenville County OPP during the early-morning hours
of Dec. 4. In the first case, a passenger in a pickup truck stopped
on Edward Street was charged with possession of a controlled
substance. Mitchell Mayer, 18, of Prescott, is scheduled to appear
Jan. 4 in Brockville court. The driver of a van stopped at the
same RIDE check was charged with driving while prohibited. James
Cunningham, 43, of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal township, is scheduled
to appear Dec. 14 in Brockville court.
Affordable high-speed
Internet access now a reality
Grenville Christian College pioneers new wireless system
By Monica Whitney - Journal Staff Writer
MAITLAND The official launch of affordable broadband
connectivity at Grenville Christian College (GCC) Monday morning
marks the beginning of high-speed Internet access in South Grenville.
The milestone event means all 160 Grade 9 to OAC students
at GCC are provided with state-of-the-art laptop computers that
have become their primary instrument of learning.
The launch was hosted by Upper Canada Networks (UCNet), a
non-profit community network with a mission to provide all public
and private sector enterprises in Leeds and Grenville with access
to affordable high-speed service.
GCC has been a UCNet stakeholder member since the Kemptville-based
company was formed in 1999 to address the needs for broadband
connectivity for all of Leeds and Grenville. UCNet secured a
grant from the Ontario Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology
in 2000 to build a fixed wireless network throughout the counties.
The greater part of its wireless network is now accomplished,
with Brockville being the first area to have access to high speed
service. It is expected businesses in South Grenville can take
advantage of affordable service in January, with hook-up for
residents following in March. South Grenville District High School
in Prescott will soon have the high-speed service students at
North Grenville District High School in Kemptville have enjoyed
for the past year.
John Childs, a 30-year teacher at GCC, said high-speed service
will provide "golden opportunities" and exciting ways
to enhance education. "When we first brought laptops to
Grenville, we knew we were opening the doors to opportunity.
Come back next year, and we'll have fabulous stories to tell
you of how teachers and students have had clever ideas about
how to implement and take advantage of this opportunity to enhance
their education and their experience and interaction in the world
in which they live."
Information that at one time took several hours to download
can now be accomplished in minutes. Many of the implications
of the "awesome speed" have yet to be realized, Childs
noted.
GCC students who spoke at the gathering said the high-speed
access is an unbeatable research tool. OAC student Lydia Davis
noted using the Internet at former speeds was frustrating, and
she would often give up or lose sleep because it was so slow.
The Internet is the most convenient resource, and the high speed
will now allow more and better research, she said.
Grade 12 student Jordan Best, now in his 14th year at GCC,
traced the emergence of high-speed access from his kindergarten
days and the use of typewriters. He said the former slow system
was "ridiculous," and he will now be able to make better
use of his time.
GCC Information Technology Director Steve Chaput said the
service creates endless possibilities for learning, such as video
conferencing, research and collaboration with schools around
the world. "It provides solutions to problems not even identified
yet," he said.
The service keeps GCC on the leading edge of learning, an
accomplishment first realized in 1996 when the college was the
first school in North America to provide all of its high school
students with a laptop computer, Chaput said.
The college has a network of 317 computers connected to the
Internet, which includes equipment in offices and classrooms.
The presentation to area business leaders and eduction professionals
in the area included a high-speed network demonstration. A laptop
computer on GCC's new system was able to download a 40MG file
in just three-and-a-half minutes, while its dial-up counterpart
chugged along, indicating it would take five hours and 18 minutes
to perform the same function.
College administration was at one time forced to block student
access to the Internet if a critical download had to be performed,
Chaput explained. Now, "we have yet to achieve maximum speed."
The new system will alleviate Internet congestion, and allow
use during class time.
Leeds-Grenville MP Joe Jordan said at the gathering the model
now in place in this area is one of the best in the country.
"I think we are going to see it replicated across the country.
Our goal is to roll this out throughout the riding."
High-speed access will also act as "a great equalizer,"
in which all schools, hospitals, industries and residents in
Leeds-Grenville will have the same opportunities for success,
Jordan said.
The university preparatory school has an enrollment of 307
students from Junior Kindergarten to OAC level.
Parking meter removal believed to be working
PRESCOTT Motorists who park in the back row of the municipal
lot at the clock tower are now being asked to buy a permit.
Signs have now been posted on the Water Street side of the
parking lot. Permits are being sold for $30 per month or $70
for three months and can be purchased at the municipal building
at 920 Edward Street at the corner of Churchill Road.
Free parking for up to two hours went into effect this summer
in portions of downtown in which parking meters used to be located.
The two-hour limit, which also covers the rest of the municipal
parking lot, is in effect Monday through Friday from 9 am to
5 pm. The same 9-to-5 period applies to permit parking.
Councillor Garry Dewar said at a committee-of-the-whole meeting
Monday signs noting the two-hour limit have yet to be posted.
It was noted the Prescott BIA agreed to have stickers made and
placed on parking meter poles to indicate free parking is available;
the BIA will be asked for a status report, town officials agreed.
Dewar also said he has noticed a big increase in the number
of vehicles parked on main street since the change went into
effect; however, he does not know whether this has resulted in
better sales figures for downtown merchants.
One parking space on each side of King Street is now reserved
for taxis. Town officials indicated cab companies are co-operating
by keeping additional taxis off King.
Prescott has new deputy mayor
PRESCOTT Jim French is the new deputy mayor of Prescott.
Councillor French will serve in that position until the end
of May, town council decided last week.
The deputy mayor may be called upon from time to time to fill
in for the mayor in his absence.
Councillors Garry Dewar and Jo-Anne Beckstead have already
served as deputy mayor during the current term of council.
New agreement in place
for police, civilian staff
PRESCOTT Officers and civilian staff have a new collective
agreement in place.
The employee groups and the Prescott Police Services Board
have come to terms on a two-year agreement retroactive to the
beginning of this year. The deal includes pay increases of two
per cent as of Jan. 1, 2001 and three per cent as of Jan. 1,
2002.
Uniform officers also received a two-per-cent increase effective
July 1, 2001. The two-per-cent increase for civilian staff was
effective Oct. 1 of this year.
The agreement was reached through mediation that stemmed from
an Oct. 30 arbitration hearing.
House decorating
contest opens
SPENCERVILLE The Spencerville and District Winter Festival
is once again hosting a Christmas house decorating contest.
Prizes will be awarded for first-, second- and third-place
entries. For more information or to register for the contest,
call Deb McKinstry at 658-2220.
Ministry of Natural
Resources reports successful season
KEMPTVILLE The recent deer hunting season was successful
and safe, according to a Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR)
official.
MNR conservation officers checked more than 2,000 hunters
in Kemptville district, which includes South Grenville and much
of Eastern Ontario. Fifty-six charges were laid during the season
which ran from Nov. 5 to Nov. 17. Those charges include hunting
at night, failing to wear hunter orange, having a loaded firearm
in a vehicle and hunting without a licence. Conservation officers
issued 81 warnings and seized five deer and one rifle, according
to an MNR news release.
"All observations indicate it was a very successful and
safe hunt with the majority of hunters obeying the law,"
stated Steve Aubry, district enforcement supervisor.
MNR survey cards seeking input from hunters on how many days
they hunted and how successful they were are being returned to
the ministry. Responses will be analyzed and used to help determine
next year's quotas.
Anyone who observes a natural resources-related offence is
asked to contact his or her local MNR office or call Crime Stoppers
at 1-800-222-8477.
SCHOOL SCENE
BOUNDARY STREET PUBLIC SCHOOL The report cards have
gone home and the parent interviews have been held; now the school
is in the Christmas spirit. Yesterday there was a Christmas turkey
dinner at the school. All proceeds will go towards the Grade
7 and 8 year end trip.
Tomorrow, Mrs. Sugarman's Grade 1 and 2 class walks to Fort
Wellington at 12:30 pm to make Christmas crafts. The hot lunch
Friday is KFC.
The students have been very busy all week doing art for The
Prescott Journal and making Christmas ornaments for Santa's
tree at his workshop in downtown Prescott.
CENTRAL PUBLIC SCHOOL The senior boys' volleyball team
travelled to Brockville yesterday for the Leeds-Grenville Elementary
School championships.
The South Grenville District High School band entertains the
entire school today.
The primary classes go skating Friday afternoon.
Hot lunch this week is chicken nuggets.
ST. MARK CATHOLIC SCHOOL The students had a wonderful
pre-Christmas experience at Fort Wellington last week and are
enjoying a Christmas sing-a-long with Deborah Dunleavy.
The school's Christmas trees are taking form as students add
their handmade decorations. The Nativity Scene forms the backdrop
as students give from the heart to the "Spirit of Giving"
campaign.
An Advent Mass will be celebrated this Friday at 9:30 am at
St. Mark Church.
Our Star Strategy for the final two weeks of 2001 is "Give
it a go. Make a good guess."
Hot lunch this week is hamburgers; next week, pizza.
SOUTH EDWARDSBURG PUBLIC SCHOOL The school's Christmas
celebration will take place Wednesday, Dec. 19.
A bake sale begins at 6 pm. A silent auction will run from
6 to 7 pm. The celebration will continue until 8 pm.
Donations needed
as Spirit of Giving campaign enters home stretch
PRESCOTT Organizers of this year's Spirit of Giving
program are positive about the way the campaign has gone so far.
"Everything looks great," says Elisa Franklin, co-president
of the South Grenville District High School Spirit of Giving
Club. "We did pretty well everywhere (we canvassed)."
South Grenville students travelled around Prescott, Johnstown,
Maynard, Spencerville and Cardinal in November to collect non-perishable
food items. The club also received financial donations, especially
at the Light Up The Night parade, when Franklin estimates more
than $300 was donated.
Franklin says the club sold nearly all its tickets for a 50/50
draw to be held Dec. 21 at the school, which would raise approximately
$250 for the campaign.
Dave Travis, treasurer of the Prescott Kinsmen Club, says
registration for the program this year was similar to past campaigns.
"We had about 257 families sign up and we average between
250 and 300," he says. "It's going pretty well."
However, financial donations received by the Kinsmen Club
for this year's program are down substantially from last year.
"We're still optimistic; we don't have snow and maybe
not too many people are thinking about Christmas (yet),"
Travis says.
Barrels for food items at local stores, schools and banks
will be collected Dec. 21 and brought to the high school.
Baskets of food will be put together that afternoon and evening
and will be distributed Dec. 23.
Grade 9 students struggle with new math curriculum,
test results indicate
SOUTH GRENVILLE Studies by the Education Quality and
Accountability Office (EQAO) confirm that Ontario's Grade 9 mathematics
students are struggling with the new provincial educational curriculum.
The mathematics assessment tests results released Thursday
show students of the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB)
and the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario (CDSBEO)
generally have had similar difficulty as students across the
province with the revised curriculum.
In Grade 9 academic mathematics, 49 per cent of Ontario students
achieved at Levels 3 or 4 (a score of 70 per cent or better);
47 per cent of UCDSB pupils achieved Levels 3 or 4 while 39 per
cent of CDSBEO students met that standard.
Thirteen per cent of Ontario Grade 9 applied mathematics students
scored at Levels 3 or 4. The CDSBEO had 15 per cent meet the
provincial standard, while the UCDSB had 14 per cent.
Testing was done during the 2000-2001 academic year. This
is the first time Ontario's Grade 9 students have been assessed
by EQAO on mathematics skills that include number sense and algebra,
analytical geometry, measurement and problem solving; under the
old curriculum, a number of these topics had not been introduced
until Grade 11.
"Teachers have worked very hard to help our students
adjust to the more rigorous curriculum," UCDSB superintendent
of education Eleanor Newman said in a news release.
"The bar was raised very quickly for all grades and these
results may indicate that the math curriculum should have been
phased in gradually."
Youth centre flourishes
at new location
PRESCOTT Officials at the Prescott Youth Centre are
confident good things come in smaller packages.
The organization formerly known as Prescott Youth for Life
has moved to a new location at 438 King St. W., beside Sears.
Prescott Mayor Robert Lawn was on hand last Friday evening to
mark the official reopening of the centre.
Although the centre's new home is not as large as its previous
location at the corner of King and Centre streets, the new facility
is on the ground floor and offers plenty of room for computer
stations, game tables and a television.
"It's a fresh start for us," said youth centre management
board chair Laurie Kirkby.
The centre, also known as "The Cave," was housed
on the ground floor of the Dibble Street municipal building until
late last year. The centre was relocated to the downtown location
in December.
Kirkby said it was nice having access to the gymnasium in
the municipal building. The loss of the sports program contributed
to a decrease in visits. However, the possibility of having sports
evenings at a gymnasium in town is being considered.
The numbers have been picking up since the move to King Street,
Kirkby noted. On average, at least 15 youngsters visit the centre
each weeknight. Officials are hopeful the new location will attract
more visitors.
Centre Co-ordinator Alysen Moodie said the young people who
visit the centre are co-operative and respectful. Members were
asked recently to indicate the activities or projects in which
they are interested. Among the responses were to perform a play
and do a wall mural.
"They're really gung-ho to do things," she said.
"They're a good group."
Youth centre member Tara Wallace described the new facility
as "awesome." Wallace said she visits the centre about
twice a week and likes the games and Friday movie nights. "It's
fun," she added. "Everybody's nice."
Although visitors to the centre range in age from eight to
18, a sense of unity has emerged. "It's amazing the way
they all mix... and seem to get along," Kirkby said.
The United Way of Leeds and Grenville supplies most of the
youth centre's funding; $22,000 has been allocated by the United
Way in 2002. Kirkby credits the United Way for pushing the board
to seek a new location.
Tom Doyle, president of the Leeds-Grenville branch, said the
centre has been one of the United Way's top youth agencies. Doyle
is pleased with the effort that went into the new location, adding
it is "money well spent."
Agencies like the Prescott Youth Centre may have to cut back
some of their services if the United Way does not meet its fundraising
goal, according to Doyle. The local campaign has been extended
through December; more than 91 per cent of the Leeds and Grenville
target of $650,000 had been reached as of Dec. 7.
In addition to funding, a team of United Way volunteers helped
paint the new location earlier this fall. "This is part
of the community approach that pleases me," Mayor Lawn said.
Lawn noted he is impressed by the enthusiasm of those who
look after and visit the centre.
"I feel quite good about it," he said.
The youth centre received a grant of $3,000 from the municipality
this year.
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