Damaged portable displaces Nanaimo students, believed to be linked to homelessness issues
NANAIMO — Students at a south Nanaimo elementary school were displaced from their classroom Wednesday, as the impact of homelessness on the district’s facilities continues to escalate.
Parents of children at Bayview Elementary received an email Wednesday morning notifying them a portable was vandalized and a grade 4/5 class would move to the library for the day.
Nanaimo-Ladysmith Public School’s Dale Burgos said it appeared someone was using the portable for shelter sometime over the weekend and started a fire near an exterior wall. He said that caused smoke and fire damage requiring clean-up and painting.
“As a precaution because of the smell of cleaners and paint, the safety and wellness group suggested the kids stay inside the school and away from the portable while staff are working on it.”