101 Things to See & Do
Best of the City News Bulletin’s annual survey available online. PAGE 7 Forest industry Truck Loggers Association advocates for more training. PAGE 21 Rugby rivalry Nanaimo Hornets meet Cowichan Piggies in playoffs.
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gs 101&TDohinin na Na imo 2013
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disc golf Play a round of ction al theatre produ Catch an origin and explore Rent a scooter
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SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2013
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NANAIMO
VOL. 24, NO. 151
Concern raised over school budget cuts Dozens appear in delegations before trustees to voice concern over effects on children BY JENN M C GARRIGLE THE NEWS BULLETIN
Emotional parents and school district employees were among more than 200 people who showed up to a public meeting Thursday evening to give trustees feedback on proposed budget cuts. Nanaimo school district is facing a $4.7-million shortfall in its 2013-14 budget and last week, staff presented trustees with about two dozen proposed cuts that would help balance the books. If implemented, the cuts would result in a loss of 10 teaching positions and about eight support workers. Cuts include closing the District Resource Centre at the old Dufferin Crescent school site; moving English-stream students at Quarterway and Davis Road elementary schools to neighbouring schools; moving junior learning alternative students back to catchment schools; and eliminating positions, including: the gifted/enrichment resource teacher, two behaviour resource teachers, the safe schools coordinator, the early years coordinator and two caretakers. Of the two dozen presentations trustees heard Thursday evening, about half a dozen were from Nanaimo-area parents and educators; the remainder were
parents from Davis Road speaking out, sometimes emotionally, about the proposal to move English-track students from the school. Quarterway parents Leonard Seigler and Lance Martin were distressed about the proposal to move English students to neighbouring schools. “We’re asking these kids to give up their teachers, their friends and everyone they’ve been accustomed to knowing,” said Seigler, adding many parents cannot afford cars and moved to the Quarterway neighbourhood because they can easily walk with their children to school every day. Martin said English-stream parents at Quarterway don’t feel that their children are harmed by split classes – English enrolment at the school is expected to be under 100 students next fall – because children learn at different levels, and the move would inconvenience parents and cause unnecessary stress for students. Kelly Dunaway, general vicepresident of CUPE Local 606, the union that represents support workers, said the morale of his members has hit an all-time low as they are seeing money spent on consultants and a new logo while support worker jobs are being eliminated. ◆ See ‘STAFF’ /4
Race through the wormhole
River Nielsen, 7, a Bayview elementary school student, races through the tunnel portion of an obstacle course event at Nanaimo Ice Centre Wednesday. Hundreds of kindergarten to Grade 4 students from across the school district were at the sports facility throughout the week to take part in Healthamongus Days. The annual five-day series of non-competitive children’s sporting events hosted by Nanaimo parks, recreation and culture is designed to promote physical activity and healthy eating.
Huge 5 Day Sale Ends April 22ND FACTORY AUTHORIZED PRICING
CHRIS BUSH/THE NEWS BULLETIN
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