All the information has been received and public discussions completed. All that’s left now is to deliver a verdict.
The last of three meetings by Cowichan Valley School District No. 79 to formulate a long-range facilities plan for the North Zone was held last Tuesday night at Chemainus Elementary School, rescheduled from the previous Wednesday due to the weather. Earlier meetings were at Chemainus Secondary School and Crofton Elementary School.
About 80 people from Crofton and Chemainus attended the third night of the community conversations at Chemainus Elementary.
“Much like the other sessions, there was lively discussion,” noted Board of Education chair Candace Spilsbury. “We had brought back a long list of responses to questions asked at the previous session and we presented those back to the community. Those responses resulted in many comments and ideas that the board will look at seriously as we prepare for our special board meeting on February 27 at the board office.”
That’s when a decision was made (after press time) on the format of the North Zone long-range plan, she added.
Two options were being considered to deal with bursting elementary school populations and space available at Chemainus Secondary. The Grade 7 (and possibly Grade 6) students from Chemainus and Crofton Elementaries will be moved to Chemainus Secondary or additional portables would be required at both elementary schools.
“The board is very pleased that many Chemainus and Crofton residents engaged with the district to provide input to a North Zone long term education and facilities plan,” Spilsbury indicated. “It was very encouraging to see that collectively we all have the same goal as we looked at space needs: to have the very best education possible for each and every one of our students in our schools.”