Provincial champions Contributed photo
The Stettler Panthers celebrate in Edmonton last Saturday after winning the provincial Tier 4 peewee football championship. For more coverage, see Page B3.
Serving the Heart of Central Alberta for 105 years
VOLUME ONE HUNDRED SIX
PM40011853 R08546
NUMBER FORTY-SEVEN
STETTLER, ALBERTA
November 21, 2012
PRICE – $1.09 Plus GST
Halkirk farmer remembered as ‘a good teacher’ LES STULBERG Independent reporter
LES STULBERG/Independent reporter
The Donalda delegation at last Thursday’s Clearview School Division meeting included Donalda Mayor Bruce Gartside (left), County of Stettler Reeve Wayne Nixon and Beth Fulton. They fought for the Donalda School.
Schools saved by the bell as board defeats motion LES STULBERG Independent reporter A packed boardroom nodded approvingly last Thursday as the Clearview School Division voted against a motion to close small schools in Brownfield, Byemoor and Donalda. The school board voted 6-1 against a motion to consider closing those schools. The lone vote in support of the motion was cast by Peter Simons, the trustee who presented the motion Oct. 25. Last week, about 80 community residents rallied to show their support for the three small schools in question. The Clearview boardroom was filled to standing room only as delegations from each community pitched a passionate plea to save their schools. There was a loud cheer from the gallery when the motion was defeated, but the mood was subdued as supporters knew the fight to save their schools wasn’t necessarily finished. Simons reiterated his position that there never was an intention of “completely” closing any school, but rather to have the option to remove a block of grades, if deemed necessary. It would also enable the board to gain more information than an informal evaluation would provide. The board has opted to study the stability of all
schools in the district. That process is planned for the coming year. Trustee Karen Holoway said the closure motion was “overkill” to get information and having it come to the board before the school evaluations were done was a “backwards” process. “It was not a good process because of the stress it puts on small communities,” she said. Holoway made a motion to conduct community meetings to evaluate the projected financial and educational outlook of schools at Big Valley, Botha, Brownfield, Byemoor, Castor, Coronation, Donalda, Erskine and Stettler by June 2013. That motion passed unanimously. “Community consultations just prolong it,” said Twila Buchwitz, who was part of the Byemoor delegation. “This uncertainty creates doubt and people will rethink their decisions to relocate to the smaller communities.” Byron Richardson from the Brownfield delegation said he was obviously in favour of the motion being defeated but was disappointed that small schools were put through the threat of closure. “It was an irresponsible justification to get information,” he said. “There seems to be a dysfunctional attitude within the board.” All of the delegations stressed the importance of schools to their communities and lauded the advantages of small schools and the quality of education they provide from kindergarten
through Grade 9. Longer bus rides — potentially up to three hours a day — were a common concern. Donalda parent Beth Fulton said students would typically have a longer day than some adults and listed sleep deprivation and loss of family time as a major concern. She challenged trustees to “lose three hours out of your day.” The impacted communities offered help in finding a solution to Clearview’s money woes. Having a fuel tank at Donalda would save money on fuel and wages, said Donalda Mayor Bruce Gartside. He said the three small schools under review weren’t solely responsible for the deficit and savings should be sought across the division. Byemoor parent Brad Mappin suggested the Clearview central office consider savings from within. He said trustees voted themselves a per-diem pay increase last month and administration has increased the number of staff in the office. The audited financial statement for the year ended Aug. 31, 2012, showed a deficit of $783,974, covered by reserves within Clearview. That deficit could easily be surpassed in the 201213 school year if the board doesn’t devise cost-saving measures. It could virtually wipe out reserves — currently at $1.7 million — within a few years. “We realize reserves are
running out and we cannot continue with deficits,” said trustee Yvette Cassidy. “We must look hard at capitalizing savings and work with communities and principals to achieve that.” Trustee Patty Dittrick said they must weigh the needs of the 118 students in the three small schools with the needs of all 2,408 students the board serves. Jordan Webber, a parent of four from Brownfield, asked the Clearview board to commit to a long-term partnership with the community. “Brownfield has a highfunctioning school,” he said. “We are responsible with funds and students are achieving high grades. We are defending a school that doesn’t need defending. “We are simply not interested in defending our school every couple years. We believe in our school and won’t accept closure or reduction.” Despite declining enrolments across the division, Donalda School expects its enrolment to increase to more than 60 students. Byemoor School has projected a modest, but steady, increase in its enrolment, adding 10 students in the next four years. The Brownfield delegation said young families with school-age children have returned to the community specifically so they could attend a small school. As the division-wide review begins, Byemoor and Donalda are the first schools slated for evaluation. Those community meetings are scheduled to be finished by the end of March.
The greater Stettler community is in shock after the sudden death of Halkirk-area farmer Steve McKnight in a farm accident last Friday. Shortly after 1 p.m., police were called to McKnight’s farm, which is located about seven kilometres north of Halkirk. Sgt. Colm Fitz-Gerald of the Coronation RCMP said McKnight was pronounced dead at the scene after being pinned between a cattleliner and a loading chute. McKnight, 59, was well-known in all of the communities from Stettler to Castor, but especially in his home community of Halkirk, where he was a lifelong resident. Friends described him as a devoted family man who had a passion for sports — as an athlete and as a coach — and a love for farming. He is survived by his wife Patti, daughter Kerbi McKnight of Lethbridge and son Matt (Jessica) McKnight, who plays pro hockey in Germany. Steve McKnight taught for 17 years at Gadsby School before returning to farming on a full-time basis. Daram van Oers, the principal at Gus Wetter School in Castor, taught with McKnight at Gadsby. “Steve was a really good teacher, but what I remember best was his coaching,” van Oers said. “He was an excellent coach. I learned a lot from him. “He was excellent with the kids. He knew how to get the best out of them. I still use his coaching ideas to this day.” Bernie Doan grew up with McKnight and was a lifelong friend and neighbour. “I enjoyed our friendship,” Doan said. “It was an easy friendship — you didn’t have to work at it. “Steve stood for a lot of good values and principles. He was a solid rock, very consistent and responsible — with a gentleness about him. He had a unique character — he was firm, yet gentle.” Doan described McKnight’s farming methods as innovative. “He took a holistic approach to grazing rotation,” he said. “He understood how to pasture, and was careful not to over-
STEVE McKNIGHT graze. That really paid off, production-wise. “Steve was a thinker and he applied himself.” McKnight and his wife took progressive steps to harness the wind and turn it into electricity for their farm, to cut the cost of electric bills. They installed a fivekilowatt wind turbine to supply electricity for their farm and were able to sell surplus power into the provincial power grid. That was a few years before the Halkirk wind project was initiated. “Steve always had a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye,” recalled Darcy Mabbott, a neighbour and a friend. McKnight continued to coach after he left teaching, Mabbott said. “He was really fair and was good at explaining techniques to the kids. Steve was really involved in sports and he was very health-conscious — he walked and jogged a lot.” While he was a student at the University of Alberta, McKnight played CIS hockey with the Golden Bears. In later years, he helped coach at summer hockey schools in Stettler. His love of sports was passed on to his children. “Our kids attribute their appreciation of sports and staying in sports to Steve,” said Wayne Mohn, who taught with McKnight for 10 years at Gadsby. “You couldn’t ask for a nicer guy.” Neil Pinder worked with McKnight in Gadsby for five years. “Steve had a positive influence on the school,” Pinder said. “He was concerned about the success of students, both academically and as a whole person. He was always looking for ways to improve things and was willing to put the time into doing it.” McKnight’s funeral is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at the Stettler Funeral Home.
Readers can also find the Stettler Independent at stettlerindependent.com