by PAUL RAYNER

With both parties in the dispute satisfied with the result, hopes are a cheque issue with its roots planted about 29 years ago will be finally put to a close.

At their August 6 meeting, the Board of Trustees for the Turtle Mountain School Division approved a motion donating $571 to the interactive reading program at Minto School in memory of former division bus driver Ernie Gruhn. According to TMSD Board Chair Samantha Cole, they hope this will deal with a contentious issue.

“If the elements of the motion are exercised by both parties,” Cole explained, “we feel the matter is settled in a positive manner for all.”

“It is extra money they said would not be spent there if not for this,” said Barbara Jay, Gruhn’s daughter, “I hope it will all be resolved properly.”

The issue had its beginnings in May 2007, when Jay’s mother Clara Gruhn passed away. As Jay explained, by November the family was cleaning out the mother’s basement and her brother found a magazine with four cheques made out to her father, who had died in May 1980. One of these was dated November 30, 1979 and from Turtle Mountain School Division. The family went to get the cheques cashed and had some success. Three of them were honoured, but Turtle Mountain School Division, who were working with a different bank and different accounting system after many years, did not.

“So, we’ve been dealing with this since November 2007,” Jay stated. “Because it was only $571, it was not out of greed, but to clear up the estate.”

Eventually, the issue reached small claims court in Killarney in June. As Cole stated, the judge instructed the two parties to talk to each other to get a solution.

“Mrs. Jay and I had an excellent conversation,” Cole explained. “We spent quite a bit of time discussion different perspectives and together decided on a potential solution, which was presented to the board.”

Jay said the turning point was when she suggested the money be given to a charity, initially in Killarney. She then found the division quite a bit more agreeable to a solution.  According to her, there is some irony to the end result.

“It was what we were going to do,” she explained. “It was our plan all along. I talked it over with my brothers, and they were quite agreeable.”

In the end, the decision was to give the money to Minto School and the interactive reading program. Jay felt it was a worthy cause, and as the family lived on the Riverside Hill, attended Minto School and that was Gruhn’s bus route, it was appropriate.

In the division’s motion, it requires Jay provide a letter to the court dismissing the legal action against TMSD prior to their end being done. At the time of speaking, Jay had not done the letter, not being sure if she had to do it or if it was the court’s responsibility, but was intending to deal with the issue quickly.

“I hope this deals with it. Sometimes when you deal with this type of thing, everything doesn’t come through. They are putting it in dad’s memory, which I hope they do. I will be pursuing it, and I will be visiting the school and making sure everything is done.”

Cole feels it was the best solution possible.

“Absolutely,” the board chair stated, “specifically in recognition of the service of Mr. Gruhn. I believe Ms. Jay and family believe in the education of youth and children who receive extra help. This was likely the best solution for everyone involved.”