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{ _Page 6 _ 'TERRACE BAY NEWS January 25, 1962 ed A REPORT TO | <= THE RESIDENTS OF TERRACE BAY This letter is offered by the members of the Terrace Bay High School Board to answer some of the questions regarding the formation of a District High School, About two years ago the Department of Education approached the Schreiber and Terrace Bay High School Boards to discuss the possibilities of forming a District High School. During the ensuing year two meetings were held, with representatives from the Department and both School Boards in attendance. Both Boards had a luke-warm attitude towards the amalgamation, Last Spring a third meeting was held. At this meeting the Representative from the Depart- ment of Education made it quite clear that in order to qualify for assistance in technical and vocational classes we must have a pupil attendance of at least 400, The assistance would consist of payment of all costs of classroom construction, These classes would be - made up of Home Economics, Shops and Business Courses, This figure of 400 pupils would be reached in approximately four years. Without the formation of a District High School neither: Schreiber or Terrace Bay High Schools can ever expect'an enrolment of 400, pupils': and therefore, if amalgamation fell through, the door would be closed forever to the: pos- sibility of teaching vocational classes. pt | | | | | Another point brought out at this meeting was the fact that the total cost of an amalga- mated school would' be less than the combined costs of each school. This would be accomplish- ed by higher grants paid to larger schools plus grants on the costs of transportation, This was illustrated by the Department by calculating estimated grants for an amalgamated school versus actual costs for each school during the year 1959, The following is a very condensed form of these calculations and the most recent available. SCHREIBER TERRACE BAY TOTAL EST.AT AMALG, Recognized costs $ 1,526 $ 11,967 $ 13,493 $ 22,100 -- Salaries 34,800 28,300 63,100 52,600: Fuel, Caretaker, Supplies, Etc, 43,700 4,700 9,400 9,000 GROSS. COSTS $ 41,026 $ 44,967 $85,993 $ 83,700 LESS GRANTS 15,807 18,902 34,709 44 137 BUDGET (TAXES) $ 25,219 $ 26,065 $ 51,284 $ 39,563 representatives from the Department. The meeting was held ig the Parliament Buildings. As a result of this meeting the Terrace Bay High School Board made a formal offer to the Schreiber High School Board. The offer was that Terrace Bay would pay 70% of the costs of the District High School and, Schreiber would pay 30% Based on the 1959 figures, and assum , ing that the total cost of the District High School would be the sum of the two High School costs, then Schreiber's share would be 30% of $51,284 = $15,385, instead of the $25,219. This 'shows a reduction in Schreiber's taxes of $9,834, which would therefore be borne by _ Terrace Bay. But the Department has assured both Boards that the cost of a District High School would be closer to the estimated figure of $39,563,. This would make Schreiber's cost 30% of $39,563 = $11,869,instead of $25,219. Terrace Bay's s! .re would be 70% of $39,563 = $27,694, Please keep in mind that these are 1959 costs and present costs are closer to double.these figures. ; - During the middle of December, 1961, two members from both High School Boards wet with | We have felt that the academic standings would be greatly improved with the advent of a District High School. This School would presently consist of twelve rooms and therefore certainly raise the acadeiaic standards by virtue of a teacher then taking one subject in- stead of four or five, Another feature of a District High School would be the start of a good Grade XIII, with the proper options, This will never be possible with our limitations on enrolment, Anyone who has sent a child out of town to enroll in Grade XIII will: recog- nize the tremendous savings, over the small additional cost of the 70% - 30% split, We have always felt that Schreibcr must be given reasonable concessions because their child- . ren would have to travel to Terrace Bay. : 'iy ' ' The question has been asked by Schreiber that why should the District High School be located in Terrace Bay? The Department of Education and we feel that the school should be in Terrace Bay because of the existence of an Auditorium and Science room in the local High School, The Terrace Bay taxpayers would be required to pay once again for duplicate facilities in Schreiber and the Schreiber taxpayers would have to pay for something which is already existing. This is not good economics andthe Department vould not see its way clear in paying grants on duplicating an existing auditorium and science room together with additional classrooms. These would undoubtedly have to be scrapped which would not be right to the taxpayers. In closing we might add that Schreiber has turned down our offer of the 30% = 70% split because Schreiber Council and the Schreiber people wish to have their own school in Schrei- ber. ' : (Signed) - H. Hall, Chairman - P. Gombola - T, Young, Menibers of Terrace Bay High School Board.