Portable-heavy Departure Bay Elementary School will be included in discussions regarding over-capacity challenges. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

filling classrooms

SD68 to examine north Nanaimo capacity crunch

Mar 1, 2022 | 5:28 AM

NANAIMO — Added pressure caused by ever-rising enrolment at several Nanaimo will be under close examination over the next several months.

Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools trustees unanimously agreed to have staff initiate a public consultation process, which could impact facilities in the north end of the district.

“The board is really wanting to engage in the community and ensure that there’s community voice in our decision making around this. I’m very supportive of the process that’s been laid out,” board chair Charlene McKay said during last week’s board meeting.

There are no recommendations on how to broach capacity challenges impacting schools in the north end of District 68, several of which are operating above capacity.

While there isn’t a clear road map to address the north end capacity crunch, committee level discussions within SD 68 mulled over some possibilities.

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District secretary-treasurer Mark Walsh rolled out a few scenarios late last year during a Business Committee meeting.

Dual-tracking Hammond Bay school, re-opening Rutherford school, opening a new elementary school and expanding Departure Bay Elementary were all floated by Walsh.

Benefits, along with challenges and risks of the hypothecial scenarios were explained by Walsh.

“These are concepts; potential solutions but not specific proposals,” Walsh told the Dec. 8 meeting.

A long range facilities plan adopted last year illuminated capacity challenges and the need to upgrade facilities throughout the District.

The plan estimated SD 68 would see its over-capacity rate soar from nine per cent last year to 26 per cent in 2030 if no action were taken.

Recent national census data showed the City of Nanaimo is one of the fastest growing areas in Canada with a population growth rate of 10.3 per cent between 2016 and 2021.

About 14,800 students are enrolled with SD 68, most of which attend 28 elementary schools and six high schools between Ladysmith and Lantzville.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes