Black Diamond -
Youth charged in shooting
By
John Barlow
Editor
The Foothills School Division (FSD) has approved a new budget with
a deficit of $183,000.
At its regular board of trustees meeting last Wednesday, the board
approved the shadow budget which had to be revamped as a result of
lower than anticipated student enrollment.
Board chair Jerry Muelaner admitted it was a difficult decision to
approve a deficit budget, but that the board had little choice.
“We were almost $900,000 over budget and we found about $700,000
to cut,” explained Muelaner. “That does not mean there
was that (much) fat to be found, but this will be a year with no flexibility.”
The FSD budget now includes expenditures of $49,814,000 and revenues
of $49,531,000.
Although the division recently approved a two-per cent pay hike for
its teachers, Muelaner said that was not the issue.
The issue for the division was the fact their enrollment estimates
were high by 191 students. The division receives funding for the province
on a per student basis of about $5,000 per student.
In the spring, the division set its budget based on its enrollment
projections.
However, once actual enrollment was established in September, the
actual numbers fell well short of predictions meaning the division
was approximately $900,000 over budget.
FSD superintendent Jim McLellan said the budget crunch in September
has forced the division to rethink how it establishes its budget in
the spring.
He said next spring they will cut way back on their projections and
put money back in the budget in the fall.
However, the recent funding crisis had to be dealt with this year
and Muelaner said cuts were made across the board.
“Every department had to look inward,” he said. “To
make this work it had to be a team effort.”
The one positive with the cuts, said Muelaner, is that it was done
without laying off staff although some contracts were scaled back.
“We could have summarily laid off staff, but we did not want
to do that,” said the board chair.
The division did make significant cuts to the “mini budgets”
which are allocated to each school.
“I have heard that those cuts have already had an impact on
our schools,” he said. “We would really like to replace
those funds as soon as we can.”
Additional cuts were made to funding for national and international
conferences and seminars which were cancelled entirely.
Muelaner said even a pay-roll initiative for computer purchases was
shelved. He said FSD staff could purchase a computer through the division
and the cost would be deducted from payroll.
“We don’t have the money to buy the computers,”
he said.
Muelaner said the secondary concern of the school division is why
these students are leaving the division.
He said some had obviously moved, but others may have chosen to move
to Christ the Redeemer School Division or home schooling.
“There is a question, ‘What are we doing wrong that these
kids are leaving?’”. 
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Final
Farewell
A member of the Ladies Auxiliary
puts a poppy on the cross held by Beaver Thomas McMinn at the Remembrance
Day ceremony held at the Flare ’n’ Derrick in Turner
Valley on Nov. 11.
photo by John Barlow |
Recreation - Discussion on joint recreation centre
heats up
By John Barlow
Editor
After the issue had seemingly died, the possibility
of a joint recreation center being constructed in Aldersyde is a
real possibility.
The councils of the Towns of Okotoks and High River and the MD of
Foothills have established a joint committee to evaluate the possibility
of the three municipalities joining forces to finance and construct
a recreation facility on MD land near Aldersyde.
Councillor Bill Robertson is representing Okotoks on the committee
and he believes the discussions have been positive.
“I think we can achieve more together,” said Robertson.
“It is exciting, but we are a little apprehensive because
it could delay our expansion plans at the Okotoks Recreation Centre
by a couple of months.”
The three communities had discussed a joint recreation center earlier
for this area, but the issue seemed to fade and the reasons given
were lack of communication among the respective councils —
each felt the others were not interested.
As a result, the Town of Okotoks proceeded with plans to expand
the existing recreation center (expand Piper Arena and build a six-lane
pool) and initiate preliminary discussions with planners to build
a twin arena near the Foothills Centennial Centre.
However, two weeks ago the three councils reignited discussions
regarding a joint project.
Because Okotoks has already begun plans for its own facility, decisions
on a joint project will be made quickly.
“We want a firm commitment from the councils by the end of
this month and financial commitments in place by March," explained
Robinson. "We hope to have it completed by 2007."
One of the stumbling blocks may be High River's timeline that is
not as critical as Okotoks.
High River Councillor Tim Tanner, who is also on the committee,
said High River will not need a new arena for four or five years,
but he added council supports being involved at this point.
“A three community deal makes a lot of sense,” said
Tanner. “We are probably not ready, but Okotoks is ready and
we hope there is still time to get this done.”
Tanner confirmed that time is of the essence in proceeding with
the project.
“We have no choice, we have to go fast,” said Tanner.
“Everybody thinks we can get this done and I think we have
a way to make this thing work.”
Tanner said he would not reveal details of the committee's initial
discussions, but that the outline will be revealed during upcoming
council meetings.
Like Okotoks and High River, the MD of Foothills' council also feels
there is potential to proceed with the joint project.
“I think there were communications problems earlier and no
one thought there was much interest,” said MD manager Harry
Riva Cambrin. “Obviously, the interest is there.”
To accommodate the various timelines some options have been bantered
about.
According to Robertson, one option is to add a third arena to the
Okotoks Recreation Centre now and then proceed with a twin arena
near Aldersyde when High River is ready to proceed.
Another option is for Okotoks and the MD of Foothills to proceed
with a twin arena in Aldersyde and allow for future expansion and
High River can build on a third ice surface once they deem it necessary.
Again, Robertson said okotoks needs commitments as soon as possible
so council can make a decision on future expansion at the Okotoks
Recreation Centre and proceed on that basis.
In addition, Robertson in order to appeal to a larger spectrum of
Okotoks, High River and rural residents, other facilities are also
planned for the joint recreation center in Aldersyde should it proceed.
They would include soccer pitches, walking track and perhaps a gymnasium.
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In this issue...
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OH CANADA
Okotoks Queen wins title
See Entertainment
REBUILDING
Fire leaves Okotoks family in limbo
See News
GROUNDED
Falcons lose
in semi-final
See Sports
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