Leaders: Duncan honours citizens for variety of achievements On Stage: Humanity and acceptance explored in The Chrysalids
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Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Lake school closure not on agenda But enrollment declining: SD79 looking for answers district-wide Don Bodger
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here are no immediate plans to close any schools in the Lake Cowichan area despite concerns from the community. “There’s no decisions,’’ said Cowichan School District 79 superintendent Joe Rhodes. “There’s nothing deÂżnitive being put on the table at this point.’’ But declining enrollment and rising costs are a reality and among the topics up for discussion Saturday during a two-hour community consultation at Lake Cowichan Secondary School, beginning at 9:30 a.m. There’s another m meeting later in the day in Chemainus and two pplanned for George Bonner and Quamichan Middle Joe Rhodes: Schools on Jan. 12. awaiting report “They are calling this a consultation process, and none off the h questions i that h are going to be asked have come from the community,’’ former trustee Duncan Brown told the Lake Cowichan Gazette. “Everything that is being brought there has been brought there by them. So really what they’re looking for is ratiÂżcation of the decisions they’ve already made. They’re looking for consent from the community — not even consent — they’re looking for the appearance of consent by holding this consultation.’’ Mike McKay, the ofÂżcial trustee for the district, who will be in attendance at the meetings, and district staff, denied that was the case. “I’m surprised that would be the conclusion people are jumping to at this point,’’ McKay said of potential school closures. Rhodes said a facility analysis report is being done for the whole district that will shed some light on the situation. “We’re awaiting a report from Hugh Skinner in terms of some potential options,’’ said Rhodes. more on page 8
Andrew Leong
Old St. Nick takes a break for lunch at the annual Providence Farm Old Fashioned Christmas Fair on Saturday, Dec. 1.
Cowichan, have you been saving up your pennies? Pennies for Presents: Annual News Leader Pictorial campaign collecting for local charities Caitlin McKay
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pare change? You can put it to good use dropping it off at the Cowichan News Leader Pictorial for the annual Pennies for Presents fundraiser. Last year the NLP raised $17, 300 for six local charities breaking the previous year’s record haul of $15,800. This year, the NLP is setting a cautious target of $10, 000 but hoping it can somehow
Âżnd the momentum to break another record. NLP publisher, Bill Macadam understands there are a lot of charities at this time of year competing for people’s loose change. “It is certainly going to be a real challenge — everyone’s got their hand out more and more and it seems tougher and tougher. But our readers surprise us and we have support from a number of elementary schools,â€? he said. The NLP has already raised $4,000 toward its goal from its annual book sale earlier this fall. All proceeds go to the Cowichan Valley Basket Society, the Cobble Hill/Mill Bay/Shawnigan Lake Food Bank, the Chemainus Harvest House food bank, the Salvation Army, Women Against
Violence Society, and the Lake Cowichan Food Bank. “This money is 100% local, there isn’t an administration fee or overhead. The money is 100% donated to charities. It’s on-the-ground money. It’s not Âżltered through anything else,â€? Macadam. “As a media company we feel that this is in our ability to drive a few extra dollars toward people’s mouths.â€? Though the drive is called Pennies for Presents, loonies, toonies and paper money is more than welcome, and the bulk of the money goes not to presents, but food banks. With the money these charities are able to restock their shelves and put out more Christmas hampers for needy families. more on page 8
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