The sun is setting on NDSS, which district officials say has reached the end of its useful life. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

NEXT STEPS

School replacement, increased enrollment among many challenges for Nanaimo-Ladysmith district

Feb 18, 2021 | 4:45 PM

NANAIMO — One of the region’s biggest schools needing to be replaced is just one of many challenges facing the Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District over the next 10 years.

School board members were presented with a draft Long Range Facilities Plan during a business committee meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 17. It showed substantial enrollment growth and an extensive building upgrade list as key issues to face moving forward.

Mark Walsh, SD68 secretary-treasurer, said NDSS needs immediate attention through upgrades or complete replacement.

“It’s our number one seismic priority, it’s end of life. School district’s around the province are getting replacement schools right now. This is again a message to our community, the ministry and political partners that this needs to happen.”

A vast majority of SD68’s buildings require seismic upgrades. Seven schools meet current requirements, a further five are considered a medium risk. Thirty-one require at least some work and are prioritized by square footage.

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The plan casts a wide net with 32 recommendations including facility upgrades, funding models, environmental sustainability and community partnerships.

The document is designed to help chart a path forward to deal with a changing enrollment landscape in the region.

Projections made by a consultant on behalf of SD68 suggest if nothing was done to upgrade or add schools, the district would be 26 per cent over capacity in 2030 compared to the nine per cent under capacity it is now.

Projected enrollment growth numbers from School District 68 show a major crunch for space within the next ten years. (SD68)

Forecasts were made using expected growth in various communities and projected residential development.

Dover Bay secondary, Pleasant Valley and Chase River elementary schools were potentially some of the hardest hit catchment areas, predicted to be over capacity by between 81 and 94 per cent come 2030.

“The numbers may not bear out so we wouldn’t look at opening a school in a certain neighbourhood because the development didn’t happen, alternatively [if] there’s more growth in another neighbourhood,” Walsh said.

To accomodate for the expected growth, the plan recommends holding onto all currently owned land and buildings, including closed schools such as Woodbank elementary in Cedar which is currently leased by Snuneymuxw First Nation.

Funding for expansion, including purchasing land around existing schools deemed ripe for expansion, is suggested to come from senior government grants and campaigning local governments to implement a School Site Acquisition Charge.

“We’re certain in at least Nanaimo and Lantzville that a School Site Acquisition Charge is an absolute slam dunk and there’s hundreds of thousands of dollars waiting to go collect from development.”

Public consultation on the plan will begin in March with a committee likely to be formed after the plan is adopted by the board to help steer the school district through the recommendations.

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alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley