School Budget Approved

Trustees with the Rainy River District School Board have approved a new budget.

Superintendent of Business Laura Mills says the balanced budget of almost $47-million focuses on student learning.

"In this budget, even though we've had some funding increases and funding constraints, we've managed to provide a balanced budget that has many programs in it that supports student success."

The board will also draw $1.1. million from reserves to help support a variety of programs.

F.H. Huffman Remembered

The Rainy River District School Board is renamed the primary wing at the new Robert Moore School in Fort Frances in honour of F-H Huffman School.

Huffman will close for good at the end of the month, and principal Donna Kowalchuk says it will be a new beginning for the students who will transfer to the new school in the fall.

"Staff, the students, parents community and school council have provided wonderful support over the years," says Kowalchuk, "and they'll all looking to the future.

The board also officially declared Huffman school surplus and will be offered up for sale.

Future Relations Discussed

Couchiching First Nations toll booth may be down, but its effect in the Rainy River district may be a bit lasting.

The issue generated much debate, and band councillor Sarah Mainville says it was a real eye opener for Couchiching.

"It was a bit of a wake-up call for our community," says Mainville, "about our relationship with our neighbours. We did talk to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs about that and our concerns, particularly about our relationship with the town of Fort Frances."

Mainville says the band would be open to a meeting with town officials as a means of improving relations between the two communities.

Physicians Appreciation Week - Part 3

We continue with our series as part of Physician Appreciation week.

Speaking on recruitment, Doctor Robert Algie says the area's lifestyle is a strength that can be used to attract new physicians.

"We need to look at selling the community," says Algie. "I think this community as a lot more to offer, both medically, but also most importantly as a community, than most of the other communities we're competing with. We need to sell the facilities we have and the access we have to transportation. We also need to sell the recreational facilities that we have, both man-made and natural."

Algie feels the local recruitment and retention committee is taking the right approach in its search for more doctors.

Library Opens

The new Fort Frances Public Library is now open.

Chief Librarian Margaret Sedgewick says her staff are happy with their new surroundings.

"We worked very hard for this day," says Sedgewick. "We're not completely up and running in all areas, but enough for anyone who wants to take out a book or a movie or use our computers, that's ready for them."

Sedgewick says there's still some staff training to do, but expects all services to be available to patrons by their grand opening on June 21st.

Patrons who visited the Library on Tuesday were impressed with the new building.

Board Hands Out Awards

A former Toronto educator has been named the Rainy River District School Board's bus driver of the year.

Herman Rodriquez accepted the award last night on behalf of all the area's drivers.

"The parents can be feel quite assured that the safety of their children and well-being is being taken care of," says Rodriquez. "The people of the Rainy River district are well served by people who are very professional who take in account the safety of their students."

Rodriquez began driving bus after retiring from the classroom about five years.

A number of volunteers involved in F-H Huffman School's "Read to You - Read to Me program" were also honoured.

Human Resources Manager Diane Ross says the twelve individuals have been a big part of the students lives.

"The Readers, as they are referred to by the children, come every Wednesday morning throughout the school year for sixty minutes of reading and oral language with individual students in the junior and senior kindergarten program," says Ross.

Angel Lowe, who volunteers at Sturgeon Creek School, was also recognized.

Staff who reached 25-years of service with the board were also honoured.