Upgrading 69-year-old Nanaimo District Secondary School should be top of mind, according to a draft of the school district’s latest long-range facilities plan.
The document was presented to the Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools’ business committee Feb. 17 and it stated the area has rebounded from a cycle of declining enrolment, with increasing student numbers and projections for potential 26 per cent enrolment overcapacity by 2030-31. The 10-year facilities plan (2021-31) is expected to act as a guiding document to the district and in addition to prioritizing NDSS upgrades, it recommends aligning seismic upgrades with other priorities in the facilities plan.
“[NDSS] is our No. 1 seismic priority, it’s end of life,” Mark Walsh, district secretary-treasurer, told trustees at their Feb. 17 business committee meeting. “School districts around the province are getting replacement schools right now and NDSS, this again is a message to our community, to the (Ministry of Education), to political partners that this needs to happen.”
In terms of aligning seismic upgrades, Walsh said it is something the district is already looking at, using Cilaire Elementary School as an example. Last June, the B.C. Ministry of Education announced grant money for seismic upgrade work at the school.
Walsh said the district is also aiming to get ventilation and accessibility work done at Cilaire.
While past plans have seen school closures, Walsh said the draft isn’t calling for that.
“When you open a facilities plan in a school district, you’re assuming you’re going to see school closures, or there’s the risk there and so we just want to get this out of the way: The numbers just aren’t there to contemplate it in the district,” Walsh said. “We have a couple of shrinking schools, but that’s not a sign they need to close. It’s a sign we need to do something to maintain their populations.”
The district’s enrolment projections came from consultant Baragar Systems and Licker Geospatial Consulting.
According to the draft document, enrolment of 18,383 is projected for 2030-31.
The committee approved a motion that will put the draft document out for public feedback with community engagement from March 1 to April 2.
Staff are anticipated to report back to the committee in April with results and any potential amendments.
In all, there were 32 recommendations.
To view a copy of the plan, click here.
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