The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The Flin Flon School Division has been asked to house a prenatal health program, but the right type of space may not be available. Best Beginnings: Baby and Me, currently based in the lower level of the Friendship Centre, is looking for a new location and has asked the school division if it has anything available. At their final meeting of 2004 on Tuesday evening, the school board reviewed the written request, which asked if space was available either as an in kind donation or for rent. "They're looking for space that has kitchen facilities, and I'm not certain that we would be able to find something like that for them," Secretary-Treasurer Debbie Bongfeldt told the trustees. Trustee Jim Wilson said his impression is that Best Beginnings wants something long-term and permanent, and "I'm not sure we can give them anything long-term, permanent." Both Bongfeldt and Trustee Wilson agreed that Best Beginnings, which educates parents during and after pregnancy, is a good program. The board referred the request to Secretary-Treasurer Bongfeldt for further study. In another matter, Assistant Superintendent Dean Grove gave a verbal report on a public meeting held last week to discuss the Frontier School Division's decision to end its Flin Flon busing program. Frontier recently announced that as of the 2005-06 school year, it will no longer provide bus service to students in Big Island, Schist Lake and Bakers Narrows ? which are in Frontier's catchment area ? who attend class in Flin Flon. Assistant Superintendent Grove said about 30 parents attended the meeting in Cranberry Portage, and some were clearly dissatisfied. See 'Displeasure' P.# Con't from P.# "A number of the parents that were present indicated their displeasure with the situation," he said. "They were strongly in favour of having their children continue to go to Flin Flon and there was a clear indication that they supported having the busing provided." Frontier will provide busing to students in those outlying areas only if they enroll in the Cranberry Portage school system. Those wishing to continue to attend school in Flin Flon will have to apply to do so in accordance with the province's Schools of Choice legislation. In other news from Tuesday's board meeting, Trustee Angela Simpson announced she is interested in running for president of the northern region for the Manitoba Association of School Trustees ? but only if current president Linda Buchanan doesn't seek reelection. Trustee Simpson said she will find out whether Buchanan, who lives in The Pas, is running again and update the board at the next meeting. Her announcement came after the board reviewed a letter from MAST, a lobbying organization, calling for nominations for its 2005-06 executive. Nominations must be sent in by Jan. 31, 2005. Here is a recap of other matters from the meeting: Chairman Murray Skeavington extended the board's best wishes to the community this holiday season. A motion carried to approve, as per policy, a request to lend the division's snowshoes and tug-of-war rope for use at the upcoming Bust the Winter Blues festival. Bongfeldt announced that there will be no board meeting on Dec. 28. The next meeting is slated for Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2005. Assistant Superintendent Grove reported that the school Christmas concerts have been well-performed and well-attended. He commended staff and students for their efforts.12/16/2004
