SD68 officials will likely soon formally begin looking at prefabrication/modular options to add capacity in the district. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

alternative thinking

SD68 to examine prefab/modular expansion options to ease capacity crunch

Dec 14, 2023 | 2:25 PM

NANAIMO — Local school district trustees and senior staff are expected to investigate cheaper and faster ways to combat capacity issues within Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools (NLPS).

During a Wednesday, Dec. 13 business committee meeting, NLPS trustees unanimously endorsed a recommendation by secretary-treasurer Mark Walsh to examine prefab/modular units to take pressure off Nanaimo District Secondary School (NDSS).

If the concept is advanced, Walsh said the district would “definitely lean toward” adding the units to Wellington Secondary School.

Walsh doesn’t believe moving in this direction hurts their case in the eyes of the ministry of education to fund seismic upgrades or an entire replacement of NDSS.

“I think that the board, if we went this direction, that we’d make it clear that the priority hasn’t changed and make it also clear that we’re in fact accepting this option as a way to make the ultimate approval of ND(SS) cheaper,” Walsh said, stating additional high school capacity would reduce the bill for replacing NDSS.

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Tearing down 71-year-old NDSS and replacing it is the district’s top capital priority.

Walsh told trustees that the prefab/modular idea arose after the district could not get a contractual agreement with Nanaimo & District Teachers Assn. to address the capacity issue at NDSS by extending the school day.

Walsh said with enrolment growth in the province creating a crisis in many districts, the province is favourably viewing prefab/modular additions to schools.

“This kind of pre-fabricated planning is a two-and-half-year project, not a five year project. It could have a real impact in a shorter period of time,” he said.

SD68 secretary-treasurer addresses school board trustees during a virtually conducted business committee meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 13. (NLPS)

Consultations with affected communities would take place before a final decision, Walsh noted.

Further exploring prefab-modular expansion possibilities within the district requires formal approval at a regular board meeting.

“How many classrooms would we add? How can we ensure that we could get sufficient amenity space at Wellington if we were to expand it because we won’t get a bigger gym, that will be a permanent problem,” Walsh told trustees.

Previous exploratory work by NLPS to ease pressure at NDSS by diverting Gabriola Island students away from NDSS to Cedar Secondary School were abandoned earlier this year.

About 1,650 students attend seismically unsound and outdated NDSS, far beyond the school’s 1,400 capacity, Walsh reported.

He said about 1,100 students attend Wellington Secondary, which was built for between 900-950 students.

High enrolment is an issue at many SD68 schools, led by NDSS and schools in the north-end of the district.

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Ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes