The Sadest Day in the History of K-12 education in Nanaimo
This evening the school board voted to close the following schools:
- Dufferin Crescent elementary
- Mount Benson elementary
- NDSS and Woodland secondary while deciding to rebuild on the Woodlands site.
The most contentious vote was that of voting on which secondary school site should replace both NDSS and Woodlands.
I could go on about the political posturing that occurred this evening, but in the end, even though Woodbank, Rutherford, & Woodlands were spared, we all lost.
We lost faith in the public education system, we lost faith in the process, and certainly lost the opportunity to work with the district and trustees as partners.
Labels: School Closures
posted by Simone @ 10:45 p.m.
4 comments
4 Comments:
I would say I have to agree. The trustees might have listened but they didnt hear what parents had to say. They are selling out valuable assets that are owned and paid for by the taxpayers of this city. The district staff predicts that enrollment in 5 years will be near what it is now. How will they afford to buy land then. The prime land they have now can never be replaced. No one is against building a new secondary school but to make the choice of building on an inferior site to uphold a promise that was made 5 years ago is wrong!! All students of the district will lose out when there is overcrowding after these schools are closed.
Here,Here!
I feel betrayed by the entire process. The District 68 Trustees played the game and followed protocol attending consultation hearings but didn't HEED any of the valid information provided. If they had, there could not have been such an injustice as has been delivered to over a thousand students and their families. The insignificant financial difference compared to the monumental negative citywide impact is readily apparent to even the average unbiased taxpayer. While shifting blame onto the Ministry, and /or pursuing hidden agendas,they failed us all by their own callous disregard of far more than the NDSS community.
Robbing Nanaimo of this site takes away potential future educational, socio-economical, ecological sustainability with diversity. ALL OF THE ABOVE included in current Provincial mandates. This is unacceptable, so let us not be complacent.
The Press, MLA’s and Ministry needs more letters!!
We all need to stand up and stop it. jw
School board trustees are elected to look after childrens educational needs. Board members ran for office on a platform of vision and educational well being. If the ministry now requires trustees to act as real estate brokers then they should be elected based on this expertise. The trustees have opted to sell our largest school asset for the price offered by the only perspective buyer approached. No other options were tabled. How about retaining 4ha. at NDSS site for future needs, this is neccessary for the board office and bus yard anyway. Or they could build on the 4ha. sell the 10 Ha. balance plus sell the Woodlands site and have a larger surplus.These trustees are elected, lets change the look of this group.
I was there to witness the vote.
Ron Dale and TL Saunders, A Polling and June Harrison voted with Chairman Jamie Brennan to close NDSS and Woodlands in favour of the smaller more dangerous location too small for the students it will need to hold.
Nelson and Donna Allen both had plenty to say against the motion, but even joined by T Hennig, they couldn't have outvoted the 5. Bonkowski stated sbe'd abstain from choosing and didn't vote.
What a Mess!
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