July 9, 2020
THE FRONTENAC NEWS
Limestone Board hires one of their own as director
T
here are always a lot of unknowns for school boards each year, as they navigate the narrow space between Ministry of Education directives, their contractual relationship with teachers, educational assistants and support staff, and the needs and talents of the students in the schools. This year, however, there are a whole other set of unknowns. Will classes run as normal in the 2020-21 school year? Will they be virtual as they were from after spring break to the end of the school year that just ended? Or will it be a hybrid? The Limestone District School Board operates 7 elementary schools, two educational centres (kindergarten to grade 12), and one secondary school in Frontenac County and Addington Highlands. The current director of education and secretary to the board, Debra Rantz, anounced her pending retirement early in the year. On Monday night (July 6) Krishna Burra was confirmed as Rantz’s replacement by the Board’s trustees, at a spe-
Frontenac Farmer’s market up and running I
t hasn’t been quick or easy, but the Frontenac Farmer’s market opened for the season last Saturday (July 4) at a new location, on the grounds of South Frontenac Rental Centre in Harrowsmith. Erin Shannon, who makes soaps, balms and other environmentally friendly products in Yarker under the company name Erin’s Eco-adventure, has taken the role of market manager this year. “We spent quite a bit of time trying to secure our usual site for the market, the parking lot at Prince Charles’ Public School in Verona, but with the school shutdown that proved impossible. Ryan [Harriman] from South Frontenac Rentals reached out to us and offered a location we could use on Hwy. 38 just south of Harrowsmith, and we took him up on it. Once we had a location, it was not too difficult to get the market going,” she said. On their first day there were a few less vendors than last year, but Shannon said a number of others will be participating in the coming weeks. “We had a really good response from the public last Saturday, from our regular customers who were happy to see us back, and new customers as well. Among the vendors who were in attendance last week, were: Rise Farm, Mark’s Mushrooms, Brambleheights Farm, Blended Roots Farm, among others. “It is so much easier for the vendors and the public to conduct business out of doors right now, and we have all the sanitization in place, one-way shopping, etc, because of the pandemic. People do not need to wear masks when they come to the market as long as they social distance,” said Shannon. She expects the market will stay open until late October.
Kirton’s Kennels & Stables 4854 Colebrooke RD, Harrowsmith
Certified Coach
Small kennel, big care.
613-372-5540
KirtonsKennels.ca
cial meeting. Burra was an internal candidate for the position. He was chosen after a consulting company was hired in May to look broadly for candidates and provide a list to the hiring committee of the board, who made the final decision. Burra has a long association with the board since he is a native Kingstonian, who graduated from Loyalist High School and then completed his Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and bachelor of Education degrees at Queen’s University. The only job he has ever held outside of the City of Kingston was at Sydenham High School (SHS) where he taught history, philosophy and math before entering the administrative pool as a Vice Principal, also at SHS. In 2007, he became Vice Principal at Lasalle, and in 2010 he took on his first role at the Board office on Portsmouth Avenue in Kingston. At the board, he has served as assistant to the director and supervisor of safe and caring schools before taking on his current role as superintendent of schools, program, and information technology services. During his tenure with Limestone, Mr. Burra’s portfolio has included a range of responsibilities focused on secondary curriculum, professional learning, Indigenous education, equity and inclusion, international education, outdoor education, e-learning, and supervision of the Kingston Collegiate & Vocational Institute/Kingston Secondary School family of schools. “On behalf of the trustees of the Limestone District School Board, I am pleased to welcome Mr. Burra as our new director of education,” said Limestone District School Board Chair Suzanne Ruttan in making the announcement. “Mr. Burra has always demonstrated a passion for and commitment to student achievement and well-being during his more than two decades of progressive and collaborative leadership in Limestone. We are thrilled to work with him over the coming years to promote our strategic priorities of wellness, innovation and collaboration as we continue to address the needs of every student within our district.”
PAGE 7
“I am both honoured and excited for this new opportunity to support the students, families and staff of the Limestone District School Board,” says Mr. Burra. “I look forward to collaborating with trustees, staff, students, families, community partners, and all members of our school communities to enhance the good work already taking place in our schools across the district.” In a phone interview with the News on the day after the announcement, Superintendent Burra (he will take over as director in early August) acknowledged that the board is facing significant challenges because of COVID-19. He is familiar with the impacts of the distanced education that was in place between March 17 and the end of the school year, not only from the perspective of working remotely in his role, but also because his wife is a teacher with the board and was teaching online for three months, and from the perspective of their three children who are students at LDSB schools in Kingston. But it is a particular set of students who he feels are the most impacted by virtual learning. “I certainly feel for those families with special needs children. It has been an extremely challenging circumstance for them” he said. He will take on his new role at about the same time that the Province of Ontario is set to announce the protocols for the delivery of education starting in September. “We are preparing for different possible models now. We also know, from what happened in Melbourne, Australia this week, that we may start the year with students in the schools, and then have to switch to a remote learning model during the school year,” he said. “In August as we get ready for the school year, we will communicate what we can in a timely fashion. These are extremely disruptive times.” One of the benefits of being a local hire for the lead role in the LDSB is the “established relationships that I have in the community, having worked and lived my entire career here. I feel the weight of responsibility as the incoming director of education to move forward as best we can.”
Mazinaw Lake swim program H ello everyone, and welcome to the first of many water safety and swimming tips from the Mazinaw Lake Swim Program! We would like to thank everyone for the support while we begin our online journey, as these are “uncharted waters” for everyone. Did you know that life jackets have an expiry date? This period of time can’t be extended by careful storage or usage, so make sure to check your lifejacket to make sure it fits propery, is approved, and is still in good condition. And remember, it can’t help you if you don’t wear it! Ever notice that you’re sinking when you’re trying to
swim? Try laying on your belly, holding onto a pool noodle, boogie board, or even the side of a pool to practice bringing your lower body level with the surface. Try doing a straight leg flutter kick to engage and strengthen your core muscles! This helps level out the body so it is streamlined with the surface, therefore allowing it to float. For more water safety tips, go to the Mazinaw Lake Swim Program website at www.mazinawswim.com , or follow us on social media! @MazinawSwim Question Of The Week: What did Cinderella wear on her feet when she went swimming? Answer in thenext issue.
CONTRACTING & BUILDING
www.jonescbs.ca 613-268-2135 info@jonescbs.ca
Fund Raiser - Donny Fobert Let's help him "hit the ground running"
Anyone that has met Donny Fobert - knows what a great person he is. Always there to lend a hand to anyone in need... Now its our turn to help him "get a leg up". After surviving a near fatal heart attack, requiring extensive repairs to his heart, further complications required both legs to be removed below the knees. He is now on a long, promising, path to recovery. We are elated to help Donny & family & definitely need & appreciate your support!
9 Hole Golf Tournament Sat. July 25 & Sun. July 26, 2020
Hunter's Creek Golf Course, 1198 Hwy 506 Cloyne. $50 P.P. 10 A.M. & 1 P.M. Tee times Shotgun start all proceeds to Donny & family Numerous prizes to be raffled (including 2021 gold membership). Huge 50/50 draw, longest drive, putting contests, etc..... Due to current regulations - only 40 participants per time slot allowed. Pre-registration is required. Please call: 613-336-2587 to register. Non-golfers also welcome!! Several food options & beverages on-site. L.L.B.O.
50th Year
June 30th, 2020 marks the beginning of the 50th Year since the opening of the Sharbot Lake Medical Centre.
Over the next 12 months, we will be sharing reflections, reminiscences, & tales of the Sharbot Lake Medical Practice from the past 50 years. “On June 30, 1971, we were scrubbing out a 60foot-long used house trailer at the back of the hotel parking lot with plans to open the Sharbot Lake Medical Centre on July 1st. An elderly man with a mustache rode up to the door on his bicycle and said in his Ottawa Valley drawl “Is the Doc in?” So, the Sharbot Lake Medical Centre officially opened a day early, on June 30, 1971 and it was evident from that moment that rural practice was going to offer something quite different.” Dr. Peter Bell, Family Physician Sharbot Lake Medical Centre
50 years later, the Doc is still in! If you have stories or photos you would like to share, please contact us by phone at 613-279-2100 ext. 115 or by email at slmedicalcentre50@gmail.com