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PAGE 18 TERRACE BAY NEWS AUGUST 10, 1972 Cost of Education = cont'd from page 17 ...... motel owner, |'m sure they could save thousands of dollars if they reverted to town boards." Lake Superior Board administers education in Schreiber, Terrace Bay, Marathon, Manitouwadge and other smaller communities between. It was es- tablished by the Ontario government in 1969 to re- place individual town boards. Monty Paget, owner of another Terrace Bay Motel, says his business taxes have risen from $2,013. in 1968 to $3,111. this year. The commercial mill rate rose by 3.5 per cent this year for public school supp- orters. Terrace Bay town clerk Bill Hanley said about 60 per cent of all taxes are spent on education. He added that before the regional board was established in 1969, only 50 per cent of taxes went on education. Mr. Paget said that if his taxes continue to rise at the present rate he will simply have to close down. He said he examined a similar motel in Florida in a better location, with three times the gross revenue. The taxes on this motel were about the same as the one he now owns. "My main objection is the excessive spending on administration, staff, plant, supervisory personnel, teaching staff and housing," he said. "Education's very important but fo spend $1 million on an extension to the high school in Terrace Bay is unjustified." ; "The Terrace Bay expansion was not needed, " agreed Joe Adamo. "When they first started they spoke of 660 students; I'm sure there's not half that." In Manitouwadge a trustee on the regional board, Mrs. Gladys Fairservice, is well-known for fighting against rising costs and the regional board itself. "We're spending more money and getting less education, " she said. "The administration salaries | feel are too extrav- agant," she emphasized. The board director, Mr. Morgan, receives $29,500 plus expenses. Mrs. Fair- service stressed that with the great distances to be travelled, expenses can be high. She said firmly that while taxes have soared, edu- cation in Manitouwadge has not improved. "| feel the only thing we have gained is an educa- tion consultant but if we were on our own I'm sure the communities could get together and hire their own. | think there should be regional boards where there is an area of 20 or 30 miles. Here the distances are too great. "I'm not blaming our administrators or trustees. | blame the government." Jerry Waghorn, a pharmacist in Marathon said angrily his town is paying about 40 per cent of the cost of the regional board. He said Schreiber, is paying about six per cent. Mr. Waghorn stressed his residential faxes in 1968, the year before the regional board was born, were $231.52. In 1971 they were $480. He said too much money goes into administration of the board with even trustees getting $100 per month plus expenses. He emphasized that before the regional board was established Marathon high school had a principal who used to teach as well. Now the school has a principal, vice-principal and two secretaries. Mr. Waghorn particularly attacked the regional board's policy of subsidizing homes for teachers. He said a house in Marathon bought for $17,000. by the board is rented for $120. per month to a teacher. The house has three bedrooms but the teacher lives there alone. Mr. Waghorn said his own house is valued at $15,000. and it costs him $200. per month to run it. In the absence of the chief administrator, Mr. Morgan, who is on holidays, only a condensation of this year's budget for the board was available. Expenditures listed total $2,791,772. Net expenditures are $2,616,730. Amount raised from local taxes totals $1,189,976. Of these expenditures, $122,204 goes on business administration, $1,829,938 to the teachers and" $57,753 on plant maintenance. Total enrolment in the system is 1,296 full-day elementary students and 1,002 secondary students. There are 145 full-time teachers plus supply teachers and night school instructors. This gives a teacher- pupil ratio of 13 to one in secondary schools and 18 to one in primary schools. | PROTECT CANADA'S FORESTS