THURSDAYDECEMBER 12, 2013
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TICKETS A HOT COMMODITY
GIVING THANKS
Emma Beaton had to add a second show in Qualicum
Event organizers give thanks to this caring community
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SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
Promise to keep K-12
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There’s also support for maintaining small, rural schools LISSA ALEXANDER reporter@pqbnews.com
Residents have spoken and Kindergarten through Grade 12 will continue to be offered in the district’s anchor communities. “This is a given now, the community has told us now that they want to see K to 12 options in both of our anchor communities, that is the Town of Qualicum Beach and the City of Parksville,” said acting superintendent Rollie Koop at Tuesday’s school board meeting. Koop said a consensus on the need for K-12 schooling came out of a series of public meetings on facilities where residents have helped to come up with solutions to deal with the district’s declining enrolment and a budget deficit of $3.4 million over the next five years. At a meeting Monday at Kwalikum Secondary School parents, teachers and residents took part in an activity to help the school board set criteria surrounding the inevitable decisions that will have to be made, including school closures, amalgamation and reconfiguration. Attendees at the meeting felt strongly about retaining quality programming and they agreed that the under-utilization at the schools needs to be optimized, Koop said. Combined middle school utilization is currently at only 60 per cent, elementary schools at 68 per cent and secondary school the highest at a combined 71 per cent. The public also wanted the school board to consider the community impact on any decisions, he said. “There is unequivocal support for maintaining small rural schools and the vibrancy those facilities bring to those small communities in the outlying areas,” Koop said. See I BELIEVE, page A7
CANDACE WU PHOTO
From left, Parksville city Coun. Al Greir, Coun. Bill Neufeld, Mayor Chris Burger and Coun. Peter Morrison happily introduce the long-awaited concrete staircase that connects the end of Sunray Road to the ocean.
PARKSVILLE PROJECT COST $158K
97 new steps to the beach The structure is made of marine-grade aluminum CANDACE WU news@pqbnews.com
Parksville Qualicum Beach residents have another shortcut to the waterfront. “We’re keeping with our goal of connecting neighborhoods to the oceanfront,” said Mayor Chris Burger before he joined hands with fellow councillors Al Greir, Bill Neufeld and
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Peter Morrison in cutting the ribbon to the steep, new staircase. The $158,340 project took years of public consultation, construction bids, a well-attended open house and 150 signatures on a petition to bring it to life. “We are very excited about the new staircase,” said long-time resident Margaret Thomas, who was instrumental in bringing the access point to the northern Parksville neighborhood.
“I’m yet to walk down these stairs and not run into someone else. We’re all very grateful to council.” The staircase is made of structural marine grade aluminum with concrete stair treads giving public access to the water as well as city access to a storm drain outflow on the steep bank. It has four landings and 97 steps. Come check out Parksville’s most recent addition to the city at the end of Sunray Road.
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