Board approves mail-in ballots

FORT FRANCES—Catholic education supporters living in unincorporated areas east of Fort Frances will have the opportunity to vote for their local trustees through a mail-in ballot.
At its regular meeting Tuesday night, the Northwest Catholic District School Board agreed to send mail-in ballots to those voters for their convenience—and for financial purposes.
The board had two options for the election.
“We could pay for the municipality to set up ballots,” said Education Director Mary Catherine Kelly, or the board could administer the process itself.
“We felt it was more economical for us to have mail-outs,” she said, adding it also is more convenient for the boards 51 electors in those unincorporated areas, who will not have to travel to Fort Frances to vote.
The board also passed a motion to establish an advance poll to cover those same unincorporated areas.
The advance poll will be held Monday, Nov. 6 from noon-6 p.m. at the board office at 555 Flinders Ave. (next to St. Francis School).
Also at Tuesda night’s meeting, Dick Botsford, teacher and site administrator for the board’s three schools in Rainy River District, was honoured for 25 years of service.
Botsford has been with the board since 1981 and has taught at every level, including core French at St. Michael’s and St. Francis here, board chairman Gerry Rousseau noted.
“He has been a true testament to what it means to be a Catholic teacher,” Rousseau said.
“Your positive attitude and love of children is truly evident in all that you do,” he added.
Botsford, himself, is a graduate of the local Catholic school system.
He accepted a pin from Rousseau to applause from the other board members.
“Thank you so much for all you’ve done for our system,” Kelly said.
Also at Tuesday night’s meeting, the board:
•approved a revised school year calendar including two new professional activity days;
•reviewed a preliminary variance report for the year ending Aug. 31, 2006; and
•approved a bylaw for a loan for $94,813 from the Ontario Financing Authority, with repayments to be funded by the Ministry of Education over the next 25 years (the “loan” is to cover costs of capital expenses already incurred by the board).
The Catholic board’s next regular meeting will be held Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. at the board office.
(Fort Frances Times)