The Middlesex County Board of Education has been granted a 2.5 percent increase
in levies coming through the front door. Given the low level of inflation, our
representatives deserve credit. Or do they?
What about the $1,182,626 from the federal infrastructure program? (Source:
June 15, 1994 and Oct. 11, 1994 news release - CanadaOntario Infrastructure
Works)? Thus, with a $32,880,217 (Source: The Middlesex County Board of
Education) 1995 tax requisition and the back door money, the 2.5 percent
increase is actually a 6.2 percent hike. This is unacceptable.
Many of the Middlesex ratepayers are farmers who have struggled with a decrease
in commodity prices over the last decade. At the same time, education rates
increased 18.97 percent in 1990, 7 percent in 1991, 8.13 percent in 1992. This
is made worse when noting that property taxes are a key determinant in
assessing education levies.
As for the teachers federation wish for a 9.3 percent (13 percent) increase,
they must enjoy playing chicken. The taxophobic general public is fed up.
Support for the 13 percent increase was also endorsed from the president of the
Women Teachers Association. How do education rates transpire into a woman's
issue?
Why has funding for education increased so drastically? Annexation is used as a
common scapegoat. No doubt, annexation has made things more difficult for the
short term. But why the pre-annexation increase is 18.97 percent in 1990? The
school board is loaded with more excuses than a Toronto Maple Leafs fan.
Did the summation of quality of education, inflation, and level of enrollment
warrant an 18.97 percent hike? Inflation was around two percent. enrollment was
virtually constant. Thus, the question is did the quality of education
increase by 17 percent? Absolutely not. Attempts to quantify the quality of
education are forbidden. Comparisons between schools and school boards are
outlawed because the teachers unions may get upset when they have to face a
dose of reality. What needs to be done?
First, a complete repeal of the NDP labor law and a claw back of any previous
damaging laws. It should be an employer's work ethic and standards that
determine who gets hired and who gets fired, not their union card or years of
seniority. Hire the best, fire the rest.
Second, school boards must be more open. The fax I received from the Middlesex
County Board of Education on past tax requisitions stated, "Confidential
Notice: ...any disclosure, copying, or distribution of the information, or
taking of action in reliance on it, is strictly prohibited by the Municipal
Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act..." It's a sad day when
our public institutions have overstepped their bounds and whined to Iobbyists
and politicians to enact such ridiculous legislation. We paid for it, we have
every right to know.
Thirdly, is a decentralization of the school boards. During the recent
provincial election, the Family Coalition Party and Freedom Party had good
platforms on education. "Parental choice in education by means of a voucher
system (FCP flyer). "...The right of taxpayers to direct their education taxes
to the school(s) of their choice, including private options. Within the public
system, we propose clear education standards..." (Freedom Party flyer).
Candidates Dr. Jamie Harris and Barry Malcolm deserve credit for their efforts
and positive input. Decentralization of the public school system and allotment
of competitive school boards is certainly better than a provincial system that
functions poorly everywhere. If you believe that decentralization of the
public education system is a good way of building a quality publicly-funded
system that ensures sufficient use of tax dollars, then contact your new MPP
Bruce Smith.
(Alex Gubbels is a resident of R R. #1, Mt. Brydges.)
