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" "Nn J . - eyed NY YY se uaa vr eeaa « " Y » "mye iy "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" aRE VEN LOA 2 VIA Fa * PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, May 1, 2001 - 3 Legislation won't affect Durham teachers: union rep By Rik Davie Port Perry Star If the province implements measures to force secondary school teachers back to extracurricular activities, Durham teachers may be exempt, says a union official. For almost three years, secondary school teachers here have protested the increased workload forced on them by the province by withdrawing from many after school and extracurricular activities. While some schools have limited sports and after school clubs, the boycott has for the most part remained in place. Last year, sec- ondary school teachers across the province began taking similar actions. "We have fought this battle for longer than anyone, and here we are the only (secondary teachers) in the province still without a contract," Shelly Page, president of District 13 of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF), told The Star late last week. The province passed legislation that would force teachers into extracurricular activities several months ago, but has held off implementing it. In a recent letter to Durham District School Board chair Liz Roy, Education Minister Janet Ecker reminded her that the legislation is still there if needed. But Ms Page said that she thinks the government is nervous about negative No objections to proposed group home in Ward 4 By Chris Hall Port Perry Star A proposal to open a group home for trou- bled boys in the Blackstock area was welcomed by local councillors last week. While a public hear- ing on the matter will have to be held at a later date, Scugog councillors, voiced no .maijor,, concerns . with,. the proposal, which was presented by Ted Arsenault at the April 23 township council meeting. Mr. Arsenault explained to council members that he'd like to set up a group home for troubled boys between the ages of 12 and 15 in the southeast corner of the township, near the Boundary Rd. The plan calls for the 9,000 square foot home, which . has already been built, to house up to 13 boys. In time, Mr. Arsenault would like to see that number increased to about 20. The home would be staffed 24 hours a day, and would provide a rural atmosphere for the boys, complete with a variety of farm- yard animals, he said. The boys would be sponsored by social services and the local childrens' aid agency, said Mr. Arsenault. Approval has already been granted by the provincial Ministry of Social Services, he added. Regional officials 'have also been warm to the idea, council was told. And the Durham Regional Health Department has given clearance for water and septic ser- vices at the 50-acre site, said Mr. Arsenault. "This will be a place for them to live; they may have been in prior trouble, but I believe everyone deserves a second chance," said Kevin Sinclair, 'a '¢oun> | selor and supervisor at the Kennedy House in Uxbridge, a home simi- lar to the one being proposed for Scugog. The property is cur- rently zoned rural resi- dential, but provincial law allows organiza- tions to open up group homes for eight or fewer clients without a zoning change. "Because of the num- ber of clients pro- posed in the Arsenault plan, council agreed that a public hearing on a zoning change would be necessary. Ward 4 Councillor David Dietlein sug- gested that the issue be referred to staff, and that a time and date be set up for a public hearing. "If you're going to put boys someplace, that's practically a piece of heaven out there," he said. ; Mr. Arsenault added that the group home would be very trade- oriented, allowing the boys to learn skilled trades such as carpen- try and welding, giving them the experience . needed to walk into a job after leaving the facility. [3 Fry 1s Nao 1 RIVE i public reaction if the trump card were to be used. "They (the government) want to punish us," Ms Page said. "But they don't know how to do it in a way that won't blow, up in their faces." Ms Page said that in any event, the law as it is now written would not affect her members. "You have to read the last paragraph where it says, provided they are not in a legal strike position," she said. "Well, guess what?" Durham teachers are the only teachers' group in the province still without a con- tract. And while contract talks continue, 2h Kegs) they are in a legal strike position. Ms Page said she finds it interesting that secondary teachers in Mrs. Ecker's own riding may be the only teachers she cannot force into extracurricular activities. "I understand that this ship of state is going in a particular direction, but what | don't understand is whether the education ministry or the Premier's office are steering that ship," said Ms Page. "It will be inter- esting to see how this government intends to solve this problem of their own design." In the meantime, there is no firm sign + from the province that it will use legisla- tion to restore extracurricular activities in Durham schools. SLATS TTS *Some exclusions may apply. Sale dates April 24/01 - May 7/01 oi BR@( "KS 168 (Queen Street, 905-985-2521 BRCKS m1 {OO Port Pern 1