LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Niagara residents’ Regional complacency must end

I can’t believe how tolerant the average Niagaran seems about this.

What most people seem to be accepting, is that although CAO Carmen D’Angelo has got to go, it’s going to cost us a lot of money.

What I see is that any monies accepted under the extended contract should be returned to the Region.

As for Chair Alan Caslin, we must make sure he doesn’t get the last laugh.

What must happen is to make sure those who can be fired are fired, those that can’t be are properly censured and punished and that Caslin himself is booted so far from public office he will have to get a real job.

I don’t know if any recall mechanism currently exists but it seems to me it would be a good topic of discussion for the nexthopefully-purged regional council.

M. Repa,

Niagara Falls

Opportunities for parents to get involved in school life

As the new school year begins, parent/ caregivers should be thinking how they can best be involved with their student’s education.

One way would be to become actively part of each school’s parent liaison council that usually meets once a month to discuss issues and make plans to help in school activities.

I would encourage parents to come to these meetings.

It is the best way to meet with other parents, staff members, and the school administration, to ask questions about what is happening in your school and how you can help make this building a great place for your child to achieve daily.

You could also have the opportunity to join a larger group of parents throughout the board by being a member of PIC or the Parent Involvement Committee.

This active committee in the District School Board of Niagara also meets monthly in different school locations to discuss issues that parents from many schools bring to the table.

It is a great way to see what is happening in various schools and their school councils and share these “best practices” with your school council.

PIC also holds a highly successful and provincially recognized conference each year at Eden Secondary School in St. Catharines during the first week in November.

In the past, 500 or more parents have gathered that evening to attend workshops that provide a spectrum of information regarding pertinent issues in your child’s life both in elementary and secondary school.

The Ministry of Education calls this one evening conference the best in Ontario, and, with the DSBN, provides funding to help cover costs.

The DSBN PIC Conference is free to those that attend and provides child care and a light supper at no cost.

Ask your school’s principal for information.

Alex Bradnam,

St. Catharines

Sidewalk problem in Port Colborne irks resident

I have an ongoing complaint with the City of Port Colborne.

The city sidewalk at the middle entrance to St. Jean de Brebeuf Hall on Killaly Street East has been underwater every time we get a sizeable amount of rain.

I have complained to the mayor’s office and my city councillor and many calls to the city yard with no action.

People have to walk on road at times to get around the puddle.

In the colder weather the puddle freezes and creates an unsafe condition for all.

I hope this letter will make the city more aware of the hazardous condition of this sidewalk and maybe get something done. Leonard Emond,

Port Colborne We welcome letters from our readers. Please limit submissions to no more than 300 words and send them to letters@niagaradailies.com or mail to 10-1 St. Paul St., St. Catharines, Ont., L2R 4L7. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Please include your name, address and phone number for verification purposes.