Wednesday, Oct. 31
Saturday night
Serving the Heart of Central Alberta for 105 years
VOLUME ONE HUNDRED SIX
PM40011853 R08546
NUMBER FORTY-FOUR
STETTLER, ALBERTA
October 31, 2012
PRICE – $1.09 Plus GST
Clearview considers closing schools LES STULBERG Independent reporter
JOHN MacNEIL/Independent editor
PARK PROWLERS — Halloween came to life a few days early last Saturday morning at West Stettler Park as the Run for Your Life Zombie Run was staged in chilly temperatures. Among the children in costumes for the event were three-year-old Silas Baker and six-year-olds Stefan Oprea and Hayden Baker. Today is Halloween.
Three small schools in the Clearview School Division face potential closure, the board revealed at a meeting last Thursday. Byemoor, Donalda and Brownfield schools are in jeopardy of being closed, because of mounting financial losses, the board reported at its regular meeting. Peter Simons, one of the trustees, introduced a motion of “closure,” which under the provincial School Act could mean the elimination of an entire school or “a program or block of grades.” After debating the issue, the board decided to postpone further consideration of the possible closures until its Nov. 15 meeting. That 2:30 p.m. meeting is open to the public. In his motion, Simons proposed the shutdowns because the board “has not received sufficient financial information from division administration to appropriately assess the viability of small schools within the division,” he said. “The division cannot continue operating at the status quo, due to an estimated operating deficit of approximately $900,000 in the 2011-12 financial year and a budgeted operating deficit of $1,760,000 in the 2012-13 financial year.” The board also directed superintendent John Bailey to prepare a report on the potential school closures, in compliance “with all requirements related to school closures stipulated by the School Act.” At last week’s meeting,
trustees agreed the board needs community input before deciding whether to close schools. “I’m not ready to support closing schools — parents and the community will tell us when they want them closed,” Karen Holloway said. “We need community consultations — we have to talk to parents first,” Cheri Neitz said. Patty Dittrick said it’s important that the quality of education not be compromised in the process. “This isn’t us going out to say we are closing schools, but I don’t want students attending a school where they won’t receive an excellent education,” she said. “I don’t want to be like Battle River (School Division), where they had a school with 51 students at the beginning of September and two at the end.” Yvette Cassidy said there might be ways to keep the schools open — and still make the necessary changes. “Perhaps we could look at schools remaining as they are, with some realignment or reconfiguration of grades,” she said. The three schools under review offer kindergarten to Grade 9 education, though there are no Grade 9 students in Byemoor. Rhonda Maginn, the trustee who serves the Byemoor and Botha school communities, expressed confidence in the education provided at small schools. “I feel very strongly that rural schools can offer our children a wonderful educational experience,” Maginn said.
Stettler targets family violence, bullying in November campaign JOHN MACNEIL Independent editor The Stettler region has jumped on board a provincial campaign against family violence. Stettler Mayor Dick Richards signed a declaration Friday proclaiming the town’s inclusion in the provincial Family Violence Awareness Month, which is November. The special designation highlights the work of the Society for the Prevention of Family Violence, an organization operating in the Stettler area for about 25 years. “Primarily, we do preventive education work around family violence and bullying,” said society representative Judi Beebe, who is also the executive-director of the Association of Communities Against Abuse.
JOHN MacNEIL/ Independent editor
The Red Rose campaign begins in November as Stettler tries to counter domestic violence. “This year, during November, we’re doing what we call a Red Rose campaign. On the second of November, we will be approaching businesses in Stettler and offering to put a red rose on their front counter, with a little sign that says, ‘In memory of women, children and men who have died as a result of family violence in Alberta.’
“We’re hoping businesses will come on board with us. It’s an awareness campaign where people coming into their business will see it and maybe reflect a little bit about family violence. We’re hoping they’ll keep those roses on their counters for the whole month of November.” Businesses might also be asked to display a collection jar. “We’re always looking for a little bit of donations to run some of the group programs that we have in the Stettler area,” Beebe said. “The Association of Communities Against Abuse is a program that is in Stettler, but covers a large area, and we certainly are trying to stop child abuse and all other types of abuse that goes on within our families, so that our families can have safer, healthier lives and their children can grow up in safety.” See ‘Violence’ on Page A11
Memories for Eternity photo
Kin Canada Foundation president Curtis Kimpton and Kin Canada president Penny Lee Smith (right) present Leona Thorogood with the Hal Rogers Fellow award last Thursday night in Stettler during the town’s business awards ceremony.
Thorogood doubly honoured LES STULBERG Independent reporter Community leader Leona Thorogood received two prestigious awards at Stettler’s business and citzenship awards ceremony last Thursday evening.
Thorogood was named the female citizen of the year and she was given the Hal Rogers Fellow award. A resident of Stettler since 1983, she has been active in the community in multiple ways, but most notably with the Kinettes and as a town councillor for eight years. See ‘Awards’ on Page A2
Readers can also find the Stettler Independent at stettlerindependent.com