BRITISH COLUMBIA
Qualicum, locked-out staff reach new deal The Town of Qualicum Beach and its unionized employees have ended a five-week labour dispute. 8
NANAIMO REGION
Offering refuge ge
Warrant issued for AWOL man on parol
Global refugee crisis leads ads to sharp spike in Island sponsorship offers
Kevin Markus Pahtayken, 48, had been staying at the Salvation Army New Hope Centre in Nanaimo. 3
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The newspaper of record for Nanaimo and region since 1874 || Saturday, September 5, 2015 SCHOOL CLOSURES
Parents ready to rally again ROBERT BARRON DAILY NEWS
AARON HINKS/DAILY NEWS PHOTO ILLUSTRATION
Nanaimo schools carving unique identities
I
n the Nanaimo-Ladysmith school district, one school is not necessarily like the other. School begins for most students in the district on Tuesday, including the thousands of secondary students who will be attending the district’s six high schools. Each of the secondary schools offers a variety of unique academic, sports, fine arts, trades and other programs that cater to their students’ specific needs and requirements. The programs also assist the schools fill empty seats, many from outside the district, as
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Sunny with clouds High 20, Low 11 Details A2
academies in Canada. Nanaimo-Ladysmith continues Under the direction of to face decreasing long-time music teachenrolment. er Carmella Luvisotto, While the district’s Wellington’s jazz bands students generally have won contests across attend the schools Canada and the U.S. over nearest to their homes, the years, and music stuthey can apply to attend dents flock to the school another and the request from across the district is typically considered and region to join the based on the amount of academy. extra space each school Robert Wellington has also has. Barron been given the green Reporting Wellington light by the school board to set up a baseball acadWellington school emy, but it has yet to be boasts what is widely conestablished. sidered as one of the best jazz Principal Chad Lintott said the
school offers a full range of secondary courses, but no academic programs that are unique to Wellington. But he said the ongoing $23-million seismic upgrade at the school will offer students new ways of learning. “When complete, Wellington will be the first secondary school to follow the new ‘learning common model’ in the district,” Lintott said. “Our new library has a big, wide-open space that allows students to move around easily and work together. See ACADEMIES Page 3
Clippers play final home exhibition game
Clerk remains in jail as gay couples marry
The Nanaimo Clippers took on the Cowichan Valley Capitals Friday night in their final home exhibition game in preparation for the 2015-16 B.C. Hockey League season. » Sports,
Gay marriage licences are being issued in Kentucky again as a defiant county clerk has been jailed for refusing to issue them, citing ‘God’s authority.’ » Nation & World, 10
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BRING THE FAMILY
Tina Bray said she’s not surprised, but is disappointed, that parents from Rutherford Elementary School must fight to try to keep the facility open once again. The school is one of three that staff in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith school district are recommending for closure as part of its updated facilities plan. Rutherford school was also on the chopping block in 2008 before a spirited fight by its parents convinced the school board to keep it open. Bray, co-chairwoman of the Rutherford Open and Thriving group, said a meeting will be held at the school on Sept. 17 to provide parents with information on the issue. She said they will be encouraged to get involved in the upcoming mandatory 60-day public consultation on the recommended closure of the school in an effort to convince trustees of the value and importance of keeping it open. “The school’s parents convinced the board members to make a unanimous vote against closure in 2008, and I don’t see any reason why we can’t do that again,” Bray said. The district’s updated facilities plan, which was passed this week, recommends closure of Rutherford, Woodlands Secondary School and either Woodbank Primary School or North Cedar Intermediate School. The district was also considering the closure of Departure Bay Elementary School, but decided in the updated plan that a study be undertaken during the 2016-17 school year on Departure Bay, Cilaire and Dufferin Crescent schools with recommendations to come from that. Chelsea Slobodan, a member of the SAVE Departure Bay Eco School committee, said she’s pleased that the school is no longer in imminent danger. “We now have the opportunity to spend our time and energy on growing our Eco Academy at the school instead of just trying to keep it open,” she said.
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