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PAGE 12 TERRACE BAY NEWS FEBRUARY 23, 1977 The following letter from R.R. Steele is in reply to Mrs. Barbara o'Brien's letter published in the Terrace Bay News dated February 2, 1977. Dear Mrs. O'Brien: The copy of your letter of January 28, 1977 to Mr. Stokes which you addressed to the Minister of Education, has been forwarded to me for reply. ¥ I realize, of course, that your board of trustees submitted a building proposal for a new gymnasium for Holy Angels School several years ago. I want you to know that this project has not been approved for funding, not because it has been forgotten, nor because it has not been considered a worthy proposal, but because it was submitted to us during a period of severe budget constraints in Ontar- 10. During this period the number of dollars available for provincial funding of school construction has been sufficient to enable us to approve only the most essential pro- jects. In establishing our order of priorities, we have considered that we must first provide pupil places where these did not exist (new schools or additions to schools in new or grow -ing communities, or replacement of buildings - destroyed by fire.) Second level priority has been given to the replacement of school buildings which are structurally unsafe, or beyond reasonable limits of repair. Only when these top priority needs have been satisfied, we feel, can we justify the _ expenditure of our limited resources upon less urgent projects. Included in the latter category, of course, are improvements to, or upgrading of, existing facilities. Unfortun- ately, the amount of money available to us in recent years has permitted very few projects of this kind to proceed. Even these few improvements had to be jus- tified on the basis of priority within that category. For instance, a school which had nb library at all is considered to have prior claim to funding over a school which has a poor library. This has been a lengthy response to your letter, but I want you to appreciate the fact that Holy Angels has not built a new gymna- sium, only because other children have had greater need. I know that you will agree that the policy which I have outlined above is the only fair approach to the problem of need in a period of financial constraint. R.R. Steele Regional Director of Education (Signed) JACK STOKES GUEST AT MEETING Norah McGuire, Diocesan president, announc -ed at the February 13th meeting of the i Schreiber Catholic Women's League, that the <1 annual convention will be held in Fort Frances ¢ on May 10, 11 and 12. she also said "A Right _ V to Life" festival will be held in Ottawa on ? May 5, 6 and 7 with bus fare being $65.00 *- return. Deadline for registration is February 28th. This event is a back-up to the Million Signatures document sent to Parliament. Irene Moorey announced the World Day of Prayer this year will be held in St. John's 4 A Anglican Church, Schreiber on March 4th. = A ladies auxiliary to Birchwood Terrace has been formed and members are asked to 3 save used greeting cards, plastic bottles and old beads to be used in craft work-by the residents. A resolution was passed to donate $25. 00 '3 to the Right to Life effort. Minutes of the past meeting and the treas- urer.'s report were adopted as read by Marion v Henri and Marjorie Spacek. ie, Various correspondence and thank you notes . were read by Lorleen Blais, corresponding ¥ secretary. : Sister Marvel, Spiritual Life convener : reported on cards sent and the announcement it of a retreat to be held at Avila Centre on - February 27th. { Simone Connelly, Social and Economic re- % ported on gifts sent at Christmas. Gloria Mullins, Resolutions and Legislation read a lengthy letter on Pro-Life, and attend . -ing the municipal council inauguration meet- ing. Kay Stefurak, Christian Life reported on B74 Guides and Brownies who are planning a bake sale on Saturday, February 26th from 2 - 4 in the Parish Centre. She said the Guides ; { { EY 'are starting an eight week course in first aid fe in March. Lorette McParland, who presided for the ¢ meeting, stated lunch conveners for the Parish social had been appointed and the St. Patricks Day tea was planned. Jack Stokes, MLA and Mrs. Stokes were wel- § comed as guests. Mr. Stokes gave an interest- ing account. of their recent trip to Mauritius » « to attend a Commonwealth Parliamentary Confer- ence. Gloria Mullins thanked Mr. Stokes on behalf of the C.W.L. and presented him with a gift. : Lunch was served by Mary Valention, Carla Maronese and Leanne Beauparlant. - {+