Students at Departure Bay Eco-School are fundraising for a new library space with a distinct nature theme. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

AMBITIOUS GOAL

Elementary school students halfway to $60K library refit at Departure Bay

May 2, 2022 | 3:40 PM

NANAIMO — Fundraising for a long-overdue renovations to Departure Bay Elementary Eco-School’s library is well ahead of schedule.

The school’s Parent Advisory Council (PAC) has raised just over $31,000 towards their $60,000 goal in the first few months of a four year quest to upgrade the school’s library space to make it more accessible and user friendly.

Jennifer Kurucz, fundraiser chair for the PAC, told NanaimoNewsNOW the space has gone without any significant updates since she was a student in the late 90’s.

“We’re wanting to do a nature-focused library with moveable seating, chairs that are accessible so they can move up and down for different children…the book racks can be moved out of the way so there’s a usable space that isn’t just set up with fixtures.”

While the focus for the fundraiser is to update the space, refreshing the library’s catalogue of books is also top of mind with book fairs and limited funding each year only doing so much, according to Kurucz.

armed robbery

Knife-wielding man robs south Nanaimo liquor store

1h ago

Shorthanded

Clippers fall short hosting Bulldogs

8h ago

off the schedule

BC Ferries preemptively cancels early Saturday sailings

15h ago

Renderings for the proposed upgrades at Departure Bay Elementary Eco-School to include new fixtures and seating. (Departure Bay PAC)

Issues with the facility have been further highlighted by an increase in enrollment.

According to School District 68, the eco-school was over-enrolled by 17 per cent in 2020/21, with the number expected to grow to 46 per cent over capacity by 2030 without any changes.

“Our school has grown exponentially, way faster than anticipated. We’re adding a division every single year at this point and it’s growing faster than protocol allows,” Kurucz said.

The PAC has taken on fundraising for the facility because they’re able to move quicker than the school district.

Kurucz said projects of this nature can get bogged down by processes and approvals, but they can be a little more efficient if they pay for it themselves.

The PAC is collecting funds through a walk-a-thon event scheduled for June 3 and is adding them to existing money in their accounts.

“We’ve been taking in money and our parents have been supporting us but we haven’t been putting out money as a PAC very much in the last two years for things we’d usually support like dances and social events, those haven’t been happening.”

Donations to the PAC can be made through their fundraising page, with donations over $2,000 set to be placed on an honour board at the school.

Renderings for the proposed upgrades at Departure Bay Elementary Eco-School to include new fixtures and seating. (Departure Bay PAC)

Join the conversation. Submit your letter to NanaimoNewsNOW and be included on The Water Cooler, our letters to the editor feature.

alex@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley