Land Conservancy Annual General Meeting, 2009-04-29

[posting]

Land Conservancy for Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington
Annual General Meeting.

Where: Central Branch Kingston Frontenac Library Wilson Room, downtown on Johnson St, Kingston


When: Wednesday April 29, 2009, starting at 6:45 pm


What: Speaker Raleigh Robertson on preserving land for science, education, conservation


Cost: Free

All are welcome.


Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


LAND CONSERVANCY PROTECTS OUR NATURAL HERITAGE

(April 16, 2009 - Kingston) The Land Conservancy for Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington is holding its annual meeting on Wednesday, April 29 at 6:45 p.m. in the Wilson Room, Central Branch, Kingston Frontenac Public Library, 130 Johnson Street, downtown Kingston. The guest speaker is Raleigh Robertson, a retired Queen’s University biology professor. He will speak about preserving land for science, education, and conservation, using the Queen’s Biological Station as an example.

Land conservancies accept donations of properties and hold land protection agreements on properties to preserve their natural features and contribute to the health of the local ecosystem. “With a land protection agreement the landowner continues to own the property but agrees not to develop it or destroy its conservation values,” explains Paul Mackenzie, chair of the Land Acquisition Committee. “This agreement is registered on the title of the property and remains in effect regardless of changes in ownership. The donor receives a charitable receipt for the value of the abandoned development rights and enjoys knowing that the natural features of the property will remain forever.”

The area around Kingston is attracting international interest for its natural environment and efforts to preserve local landscapes. UNESCO’s recognition of the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve and the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s recent purchase of the Hewlett-Packard property near Morton have raised awareness of the unique ecosystems in the region with its limestone plains and granite Canadian Shield that lie between the Adirondack State Park to the south and Algonquin Park to the north.

“When you look at what is happening just north and east of Kingston, you realize that this area is becoming a significant site for conservation projects,” notes Mackenzie.

The Land Conservancy will have maps on display to show the connections between various conservation properties in the region. “We are a new land trust and are just getting started. We already own a 66-hectare lakefront property near Verona and are currently working on three land protection agreements and a possible land donation. Four of these properties fit into the emerging conservation corridor,” Mackenzie advises.

Everyone is welcome to attend the annual meeting to find out more about the Land Conservancy and to hear more about what the organization is doing to keep nature near … always.

Vicki Schmolka
President, Board of Directors
(613) 549-1707 (Kingston)
schmolka@kingston.net

Paul Mackenzie
Chair, Land Acquisition Committee
(613) 547-5748 (Kingston)
mackenzp@queensu.ca

Keeping nature near … always




-30-

[Lydia]

People for Education's 2009 Annual Report on Ontario's Public Schools

ONTARIO NEEDS A 21ST CENTURY VISION FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION ACCORDING TO A REPORT RELEASED TODAY BY PEOPLE FOR EDUCATION

"Ontario's education system is doing very well in addressing the core subjects," says Annie Kidder, Executive Director of People for Education. "But if we want an education system that truly meets the needs of the 21st century, we're going to have to expand our vision beyond the mechanics of reading, writing and math."

People for Education is an independent parent-led organization. The group provides information and support to parents, conducts research on education and sits at a number of provincial education policy tables.

The Social Planning of Council recently co-sponsored the People for Education Schools @ the Centre community consultation in Kingston.

The Annual Report recommends:


A new vision for education has to have equity at its foundation (addressing concerns about fundraising, access to the arts and fees for activities and courses)
A new vision for education must go beyond test score targets in reading, writing and math - it has to include a goal to foster students' capacity for creativity and innovation and recognize the importance of a range of "learning"
A new vision must recognize the potential in our publicly-funded system to develop strong citizens - through integrated health programs, effective early learning and care, great arts programs and a wide range of course choices
A new vision must support (with policy and funding) integration of services, joint planning, and cooperation across sectors - so that families have all the support they need to ensure students can be successful
Declining enrolment is a reality and it provides a chance to re-think the use of school buildings
It is vital that before the review of the funding formula in 2010, we make sure we've developed the right policies - about the arts, libraries, health and physical education, early learning, integrated services, special education, community hubs, fundraising and middle schools etc.

QUICK FACTS

Declining Enrolment

· 34 of Ontario's 72 school boards now have fewer than 12,000 students.

· 146 schools are closing or recommended to close.

Class size

· 98% of Kindergarten to Grade 3 classes have 25 students or fewer, an improvement from 89% in 2005.

· 78% of elementary schools report they have split-grade classes, an increase from 74% last year.

The school office

· 51% of elementary school principals have five years experience or less.

· 38% of elementary schools have a vice principal, a decline from 54% in 1998.

Fundraising, fees and volunteers

· The percentage of elementary schools raising more than $20,000 per year has more than doubled since 2001.

· 63% of secondary schools charge fees for labs and course materials.

· There are over 100,000 volunteers working in Ontario's schools.

· Overall, Ontario schools and parents raised $595 Million in 2007/8 through things like fundraising, fees, vending machines, and corporate and charitable donations.

Special Education

· Approximately 15% of students require some form of special education support. Funding for Special Education assumes a rate closer to 12%.

· Since 2003, there has been a 29% decline in the total number of students on waiting lists for special education services or support.


Libraries, reading and literacy
· 49% of Grade 6 students say they "like to read.

· Only 55% of elementary schools have a teacher-librarian, most of them part-time, compared to 80% in 1998.

Design and Technology

· 7% of schools with Grades 7&8 have a Design and Technology teacher, compared to 22% in 1998.

English as a Second Language

· Some urban/suburban schools report that over 90% of their students require ESL support.

· In elementary schools with 10 or more ESL students, 22% have no ESL teacher, up from 14% in 2000.

The Arts

· 46% of elementary schools have a Music teacher, compared to 58% in 1998.

· 54% of secondary schools charge fees for art classes and 23% charge fees for music classes.

Health and physical education

· 40% of elementary schools have a health and physical education teacher.

· Athletic fees in secondary school cost from $0 to $500.

· 36% of secondary schools charge fees for physical education.

Parents and school councils

· 57% of school councils reported principals always notified them of education policy changes.

· 33% of respondents had successfully applied for Ontario Parent Reaching Out Grants.

· 66% of school councils reported that they have their own bank accounts, but 15% said that only the principal has final authority over the fund.



The Annual Report on Ontario's Public Schools is available on the People for Education's website at

www.peopleforeducation.com

For more information, contact:

People for Education

641 Bloor Street West

Toronto, Ontario M6G 1L1

416-534-0100