Review-Mirror

The Village of Westport awarded new three-year snow removal contracts Monday night. The three-year con- tracts reflect changes made since last winter when tempers flared over the condition of the vil- lage, built up over several seasons, capped off by last winter's 50-plus cm snow- fall. The new contracts include sidewalk plowing every snowfall and a standing offer for snow- bank removal. Previously both of those activities were at the whim of Town Hall. Another change will see contractors paid every time they go out, triggered by any snowfall over 2", with no guaranteed base- line payment over the sea- son. The village split the bulk of the work for the tender into three parts and received bids from three contractors, with each bid- ding on only one portion. The previous contrac- tor, Jackson Services will be clearing and sanding the streets and sidewalks for the next three years at a cost of $1,101 per event. Phil Younge will be clearing snow at the vil- lage's parking lots and entrances for $330 per event with an additional By Margaret Brand The Review-Mirror Parents across Leeds Grenville and throughout the Upper Canada District School Board fighting to keep their schools open are now part of a provin- cial movement. On Monday, parents from across Ontario attended a rally at Queen's Park to protest an accom- modation review process and funding formula which could see up to 600 mostly rural schools close across the province. Leeds Grenville MPP Steve Clark joined parents at the Ontario Alliance Against School Closures (OAASC) rally where he continued his criticism of the accommodation review process which he began inside the Legisla- ture Monday. Clark took Minister of Education Mitzie Hunter to task for sitting on the sidelines while the fate of rural education is left to a process that prioritizes school closures rather than exploring other long-term solutions. "Her Ministry created this disastrous Pupil Accommodation Review process and pulled the funding that supported these rural schools to put everything in motion. And she thinks she's going to get a pass? No chance," said Clark who was one of a number of MPPs who spoke of the parents fight in the House. Clark said the minister is showing how out of touch she is with what's really happening by her insistence that students will be kept "at the fore- front of every decision we make." "How is it keeping stu- dents at the forefront when the options include putting young children on the bus for an hour or more in one direction?" asked Clark. "Or sending students to overcrowded schools and jamming them into porta- bles while the board waits for money to build a mega-school?" he said. Ten of the 29 schools slated for closure in the UCDSB's Sept. 27 Staff Report are in Leeds Grenville. On Monday in the Leg- islature Clark called for a moratorium on the accom- modation reviews. "The Premier and Edu- cation Minister must get away from Queen's Park and see for themselves what's really happening across Ontario. These reviews are just smoke and mirrors that give the appearance of consulta- tion. True consultation starts before recommenda- tions are made – not after," said Clark. His colleague Bill Walker, in presenting a petition in the House on Monday noted the Min- istry of Education had removed community impact considerations from pupil accommoda- tion review guidelines in 2015. The lack of community impact consideration in the UCDSB's staff report on closures was noted many times at last Wednesday's public meet- ing in Perth. The report has been dri- ven by the need to reduce excess capacity in schools which, in the UCDSB, is the equivalent of 10,000 student spaces for which the board receives no funding. Reducing those spaces will allow the board to receive the dol- lars needed for capital upgrades. Parents at the public accommodation review meeting in Perth echoed Clark's concerns when advocates from schools throughout Lanark Coun- ty, as well as Wolford, and Sweet's Corners spoke out about the conclusions of the staff report. The meeting was one of two meetings the local Accommodation Review Committee (ARC) will be holding before staff com- pletes a report to the board on Feb. 15. The second round of public meetings by the ARCs is January 19, 23, Mirror The Review Thursday, November 24, 2016 Serving North Leeds and area since 1893 Vol. 125, No. 47 $1 incl. tax Canada Post Contract No. 40021501 Parents and politicians coming out against school closures Sweets Corner's students' participation in the Lyndhurst Santa Claus parade was seasonal and political with a shout-out to the public to 'Keep Sweets'. A staff report to Upper Canada District School Board trustees has suggested closing the school near Lyndhurst and bussing students to South Crosby Public School in Elgin. 75 units from 6'x6' to 12'x36' Easy year round access right in Westport 75 units from 6'x6' to 12'x36' Easy year round access right in Westport 75 units from 6'x6' to 12'x36' Easy year round access right in Westport 75 units from 6'x6' to 12'x36' Easy year round access right in Westport Soho's Self Storage Soho's Self Storage Soho's Self Storage Soho's Self Storage Soho's Self Storage 75 units from 6'x6' to 12'x36' Easy year round access right in Westport 43 Bedford St., Westport 613-273-8848 soho@rideau.net u shot. Get your Don't go viral. eet (613) 273-2922 h Str c 3 Chur .A. estport Village I.D W ca ot. al.ca vir dontgo •Continued on page 3 •Continued on page 3 Christine Jennings, Owner 20 Whelan St., Westport, Ontario 613-273-9800 Full Service Dog Grooming Salon Call 359-5660 53 Main St., Elgin duncan s TV & APPLIANCES 16 cu. ft. Chest Freezer •Lift Handle Organization Basket •Power-On Light •LED Lighting •Lock Model #FFFC16M5QW 13 cu. ft. Upright Freezer •Incandescent Lighting •Manual defrost •Textured Doors •Door Racks •Wire Shelves Model #FFFV13M1QW Continuing a 30 year tradition serving North Leeds - Delivery & Set Up Available FALL FREEZER SALE Reg. $749.95 $ 699 95 Reg. $799.95 $ 699 95 Village hopes new snow clearing contracts bring improvements Shop, Spend and Eat Local See pages 8-9

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