Field hockey Nanaimo team finishes season
on sunny day.
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www.nanaimobulletin.com
TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015
VOL. 27, NO. 11
Plan advises closure of four area schools I SCHOOL DISTRICT staff present revised facilities plan to trustees. BY KARL YU THE NEWS BULLETIN
CHRIS BUSH/THE NEWS BULLETIN
Protection port of call
Water played a big role in lives on the weekend as hot weather brought families out on the water. The water between Newcastle and Protection was a favourite spot where people paddling small craft found shelter from a stiff breeze Sunday.
Group pitches multiplex plan for downtown BY CHRIS BUSH THE NEWS BULLETIN
Howard Johnson Hotels is pushing forward a proposal to build a multimillion-dollar hotel and sports arena multiplex that could start construction by the end of 2016. The former Tally Ho Hotel was bought in 1995 to build a conference centre, which was passed up in favour of the site now occupied by the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. This latest proposal was sparked by interest shown by the Western Hockey
League in possibly bringing a second team to the Island, but also because the hotel’s parent company has subsidized the hotel’s operations for the last 18 years. “This is probably our third or fourth version of trying to figure out what to do for redeveloping this site,” said Dan Brady, who manages Howard Johnson Harbourside Hotels in Nanaimo and Victoria. Brady now has to gauge public support for the project, which is being called the Millstone Gateway. Brady and hotel owner
Brian Martin pitched the proposal to Nanaimo Mayor Bill McKay and senior city staff on Friday. Brady said he came away from Friday’s meeting feeling good and that the city appears to support the proposal. The corporation has already purchased surrounding properties for the project, which would include a 5,000-seat arena and six-storey, 166-room hotel on about three hectares along the Millstone River near Comox Road and Terminal Avenue. See ‘NO PUBLIC’ /4
Nanaimo school district trustees will spend the summer contemplating an updated facilities plan that recommends four school closures. The board previously requested staff review and provide a revised plan and at the June 10 business committee meeting, John Blain, school superintendent, presented the Updated Facilities Plan 201521. Departure Bay Eco-School is one that could be closed by the end of June 2016. Declining enrolment – the school is seeing capacity of 67 per cent – the aging condition of the facility and the fact the Departure Bay Road site can’t be expanded were among reasons cited. With 54 per cent capacity utilization, North Cedar Intermediate is also one that could be shut down. In addition to concerns about declining enrolment and aging facilities, it is in a similar location as Woodbank Primary School. Rutherford Elementary and Woodlands Secondary, slated for closure in previous facility plans, were also recommended for closure, citing the same enrolment and aging facility issues as Departure Bay and North Cedar. Rutherford is seeing 75 per cent capacity utilization, while Woodlands is
seeing 85 per cent capacity. The closures are only recommendations at this point and no decisions have been made. Trustees have questions and there will be ongoing dialogue with school staff, leading up to a special board meeting scheduled for late August, where a revision will be presented that will hopefully answer questions, according to Steve Rae, school board chairman. Rae said there will be consultation if schools are to be closed. Costs and cost savings will be among the things Rae will take into consideration over the next three months. “Any time you close a school, it’s a big thing,” said Rae. “It affects a lot of people, so we want to make sure we’re doing the right thing and we want to make sure we’re doing what’s best for the whole district ... there’s lots and lots of things to consider when you do something of this magnitude. “We want to be thorough and thoughtful and take our time and make sure that we’re doing the right thing here.” The district has received more than $12 million in funding protection money from the government the past four years and is projecting 2015-16 to be the last year it receives that. The district had been utilizing that money to offset reductions to programs and staff. reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
What do you think? Give us your comments by e-mail: editor@ nanaimobulletin.com or www.facebook.com/nanaimobulletin.
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