zoe larsen on sd68 school "choice" (no-choice)
DESCRIPTION
Contrary to what Trustees and the SD68 says, there really isn't a choice for Cedar teens, whose economically-challenged parents cannot afford to haul their own kids to Ladysmith.There used to be a high-school right here in the rural Cedar community, but the SD68 Trustees have made sure that's no longer an option. They could renovate Woodbank, which is a much better option as an elementary school, since it is ALREADY an elementary school.No ... the Trustees have decided instead to pick on Cedar, close 3 schools and parade around instead, a re-tooled Secondary School that's poorly made into an elementary school.TRANSCRIPT
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Subject: No Choice of Schools for Most Cedar Teens
To All Concerned:
The community of Cedar has been ignored in your 10-year facility plan from Day 1. I may not understand all
the politics and finances in your decision to take away CCSS away from our Cedar teens, but I do have common
sense and I do know right from wrong. Everyone is going to benefit from your plan at the expense of Cedar
teens. How can this be fair?
I'm happy for the kids who are benefiting, but not when it is at our kid’s expense. How can you not see how
unjust this is when you know there are other options available where all the kids will benefit?
Woodbank property is a perfect location for an upgraded elementary school. It is in a quiet neighborhood with
a beautiful big play field and not much traffic. CCSS is on a busy intersection with a lot of traffic from the
store/gas station, Harmac, BC Ferries and Holden Corso Rd.
WHY will you not even consider having an architect assess Woodbank as a possible alternative to CCSS for your
mega elementary school?
I guess so that all the other kids in SD68's needs are met, again at our kid’s expense.
People are already talking about moving from Cedar because of this decision. What a sad state of affairs that
is, for young families to have to consider leaving the community they love, because they don't want their
children bused away from home to attend school in someone else’s neighborhood.
There really is not a choice of schools offered to our kids. Not everyone can provide transportation to
Ladysmith, in fact MOST can't. So they have NO Choice.
I hope you have read the letter to the editor written by Mr Jeff Solomon, in the Nanaimo Daily News on Oct.
28. He hits the nail on the head.
I watch City Council meetings and have attended SB meetings. City Council members and Mayor Rattan
actually communicate back and forth ORALLY with their audience members. I might be old and deaf but after
the SD68 meetings I have heard many people say " I hardly heard a word he said", meaning you, Mr. Brennan.
At the end of your meeting, when audience members submit WRITTEN questions and await your answer, you
read them as quickly as you can and fire back an answer that no one is allowed to respond to. Then you say "Is
that it?”
I still can't believe that all of you SD68 trustees believe that this decision is "good for our kids".
Zoe Ann Larsen