One principal for two schools in Stettler LES STULBERG Independent reporter As Clearview School Division continues to make administrative changes for the next school year, the school board has spoken out this week in hopes of easing concern among staff and community members. Talk of a pilot project to amalgamate administration staff for the Stettler school complex caused a stir in the community and the Clearview board tried to clarify its position. In a statement released Tuesday, the
trustees said, “We failed to communicate the intent of the pilot project clearly, and we collectively apologize for that failure of communication. “The intent of the pilot was to analyze the potential benefits and implications of various pre-kindergarten to Grade 12 configurations to best meet the educational needs of students in Stettler and surrounding communities.” In the same release, the board said it doesn’t plan to reconfigure Stettler schools for the coming year. “The 2013-14 school year will be one of analysis, consultation and planning for educational programming in Stettler,” the
news release read. But there will be at least some changes at the Stettler complex. Sharon Fischer has been appointed the principal of both Stettler Elementary School and Stettler Middle School for the 2013-14 school year. She already had the middle school post. She also takes over the elementary school reins, with the departure of Denise Campbell. Superintendent John Bailey said he doesn’t envision appreciable changes to the schools, as each would continue to operate individually, with their respective vice-principals still in place.
The board said that with the analysis of programming under review for the Stettler complex during the 2013-14 school year, it didn’t want to hire someone as principal for the elementary school when it might only be a one-year appointment. The board is confident Fischer is a good fit for the dual position. “She is known to the community and brings a familiar face of consistency in leadership,” Bailey said. “We are committed to continue to offer excellent support to our staff, parents and students, and will be adjusting administrative time in these two schools to offer that support.”
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HIGH ACHIEVER — Dallin Higham of Lindsay Thurber in Red Deer clears the high-jump bar during senior boys’ action at the Central Alberta zone track and field meet last Wednesday in Stettler. Higham won a second-place tiebreaker to nab a berth in the provincial championships this weekend in Calgary. See more on pages B1 and B2.
Town makes pitch to county to partner in recreation upgrade RICHARD FROESE Independent reporter Hoping to make progress on plans to upgrade the Stettler Recreation Centre this fall, the town is lobbying the County of Stettler for more funding. “While 50 per cent of the SRC is used by county residents, there is no inherent cost to keep the facility operating,” Mayor Dick Richards said during a town council meeting late last month. Upgrades were discussed as part of the town’s strategic plan update. This spring, the county contributed $140.000 as part of a grant of $250,000 from the new federal Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund (CIIP) to upgrade the library and expand the parking lot. Although the county hasn’t responded to further funding requests to continue the second phase of the SRC upgrade, town council wants to discuss the issue with the county. “I hope they can come back to us as equal partners,” Richards said. “We do so many good things together. What’s fair is to pay their fair share.” While county council agrees that costs be shared, the reeve said it
wants to wait for an independent report about the county’s contributions to recreation before making any decisions. “The bottom line is we want to be fair,” Reeve Wayne Nixon told the Independent. While county residents frequently use the SRC facilities, he said funding for such facilities is not high priority for taxpayers. “As much as recreation is important, it is far less important to county taxpayers than roads, bridges and gravel,” Nixon said. While he supports a user-pay system to support recreation, the reeve said he and council are also committed to other facilities used by county residents, and that they’re financially feasible and supported, such as countless community halls, arenas, sports fields, and seniors centres in Big Valley, Erskine, Donalda, Byemoor, Endiang, Botha, Gadsby and Red Willow. Town and county councils plan to further discuss the issue at an upcoming joint meeting. County council also suggested that funding from the sale of the current Stettler and District Seniors’ Drop-in Centre downtown could be allocated to the SRC. Coun. Leona Thorogood, however, suggested that the seniors’ facility could be designated as a centre for non-profit groups, as listed in the town’s strategic planning.
Delburne ready to throw party worthy of centennial birthday By Myles Fish Black Press Delburne is getting ready for a party. To celebrate its 100 years, the town’s centennial committee is throwing a big celebration from June 28 to July 1. There will be community breakfasts and suppers, class reunions, ongoing entertainment and helicopter rides over the weekend and on Canada Day. Organizers are expecting 2,000 to 3,000 people to flood into the community for the festivities, which will get underway at noon on June 28. The next day is scheduled feature a variety of events, from “zorbing” in water balls to vintage machinery displays, century family exhibits and shepherding demonstrations. Then, at 8 p.m., Emerson Drive will play a concert at the village’s Agriplex. Sunday is slated to feature more of the same, plus an interdenominational church service at noon, class reunion photos throughout the day, and a dance with music by renowned Edmonton band The Emeralds at 8:30 p.m. A community buffet supper will precede the dance, and fireworks will follow at midnight.
Finally, on Monday, there will be a centennial parade at 11 a.m., and a gymkhana and tractor pull in the afternoon. From Friday to Sunday, there will be helicopter rides from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., where anyone can go up for a ride to get an aerial view of the village and its environs. “It has been a tremendous effort on the part of a lot of people to pull this off and we’re just hoping that everybody who comes is going to take away tremendous memories from it, and really appreciate what’s happened in the community in the last 100 years and how strong it is going forth into the next century,” said Karen Grant, one of the centennial organizers. Tickets are being sold in advance for the celebration’s three big events — the Emerson Drive concert, the community buffet supper and the Emeralds dance. For a full schedule of events, and information on how to get tickets or how to become involved, visit delburne. ca or check out the Delburne Alberta 2013 Centennial page on Facebook. Anyone with historical photos of the town or its residents is encouraged to share them with the Delburne centennial committee.
RICHARD FROESE/Independent reporter
OBSTACLE COURSE — A Stettler motorist tries to navigate after a heavy rainfall hit Stettler last Wednesday.
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