100 Mile House
Community penny drive fundraiser underway
Tournament provides friendly competition
Volunteers play vital role in the community
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APRIL 18, 2012
Celebrating Earth Day 2012
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• 52 Pages • Two Sections
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New recruits for 100 Mile House Fire-Rescue Carole Rooney Free Press
Several civic-minded individuals have stepped forward as potential firefighters for 100 Mile House Fire-Rescue. Chief Darrell Blades says the recent 2012 Recruiting open house was successful with half a dozen people attending to sign up. With two more who phoned him after the meeting, the interview process began in early April and Blades notes he’s hoping to have eight new recruits by the start of basic training tomorrow (April 19). The B.C. Basic Firefighter Certificate Program is first up, he adds, leading to job-related physical fitness testing and a one-day live fire training in the Fire Attack Rural Program. “Once they have all that done, they join the department as probationary firefighters until the end of the year.” The new-member training doesn’t end there, however. See RECRUITS… page A4
The Voice of the South Cariboo Since 1960 How to reach us: Ph: 250-395-2219 Fax: 250-395-3939 www.100milefreepress.net mail@100milefreepress.net
Chris Nickless photo
Sparks and wind combo... A grass fire across from Mile 108 Elementary School on Sunday (April 15) was ignited when the wind caught sparks from material burning in a barrel at a nearby residence. The fire quickly spread and covered about half a hectare before Mile 108 Ranch Volunteer Fire Department members doused it.
Van Osch ‘concerned’ after ministry meeting Carole Rooney Free Press
School District 27 chair Will Van Osch says a meeting he attended with Education Minister George Abbott recently was more about public image than providing details. Van Osch was among many school board chairs and district administrators from around the province who met with Abbott and members of his staff on April 10 to discuss recent legislation changes. The local school board chair says they gathered in the Lower Mainland and heard Abbott’s explanation of Bill 22 first-hand. Since its release, much
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There was a lot that’s not been laid out. I think they were kind of flying by the seat of their pants a bit.”
discussion and dispute has been bandied around the province over the ramifications of the bill between the ministry and the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF). “[The ministry staff] mostly went over the sections of Bill 22 where they felt there was misinformation about. They didn’t really talk about the regulations as much as they discussed the intent of what they were
Will Van Osch trying to do.” Van Osch says Abbott told them this “misinformation” includes a concern about public teachers’ autonomy and seniority, but it is not addressed by Bill 22. “They’re saying it hasn’t changed.” The previous Bill 33, which controlled class size and composition, is now superseded by Bill 22, so its related reporting requirements have also ended, Van Osch notes.
“It seemed to me it was a public-relations process. It was more about trying to explain their intent – or what they thought their intent was – than it was about describing the exact implications of Bill 22. “It seems they’re not 100 per cent sure how it’s all going to roll out either.” Class size and composition aspects of the bill were also discussed, he explains. Teachers will be compensated with $2,500 if they’re class size is over 30, Van Osch says, but won’t have power to decide if that class size is acceptable to them, as the legislation removes the consultation with teach-
ers previously required in Bill 33. “There’s nothing in Bill 22 that stops larger than 30 students in a (Grades 4-7) class, and if it happens, there’s really not a mechanism for a teacher to appeal that.” Another change is the elimination of extended school day controls from the BC School Act, he says, which were previously restricted to a “complicated process” for potential approval in the teacher’s collective agreement requirements. “So now, districts will be able to talk about year-round schooling if they so desire. It won’t be See BILL 22… page A5