North/central Nanaimo elementary catchment changes are pending with Rutherford school re-opening its doors in Sept. 2025. (file photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

big changes

Trustees endorse draft changes to Nanaimo elementary school catchment boundaries

May 16, 2024 | 2:17 PM

NANAIMO — With Rutherford Elementary School scheduled to re-open in the fall of 2025, local district officials are on board with proposed new catchment zones.

At a Wednesday, May 15 special school board meeting, SD68 trustees unanimously approved a committee level recommendation aimed a funneling students to Rutherford school, while adjusting the catchment boundaries of several other elementary facilities.

Aside from Rutherford school re-opening, the biggest anticipated changes are to the boundaries of Frank J. Ney and Departure Bay elementary schools.

“The only way to ensure the vibrancy of Rutherford is to require students in K-6 (as of September 2025) in the new Rutherford catchment to transfer. Further, transfer is also required for the same age group from Departure Bay to Frank J Ney or Frank J Ney would be under capacity,” outlined a report authored by SD68 secretary-treasurer Mark Walsh.

An animation with the current school catchment boundaries, along with the proposed redrawing. (SD68/Google Maps)

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Notable alterations to Randerson school’s catchment area are also proposed, while minor adjustments to McGirr, Seaview, Rock City, Uplands Park and Cilaire schools are also included.

Walsh’s report noted without requiring students to transfer to Rutherford school, volunteers to populate it would be required, which he said would is not a workable solution.

“Please note that students who have utilized the Out-of-Catchment process and previously transferred into McGirr, Frank J Ney, Randerson or Departure Bay or lived in the catchment and then moved will not be required to transfer.”

Information on the public consultation process for the redrawn catchment areas is expected in the coming weeks.

Walsh said public consultations would ideally conclude by the end of June and then reviewed in the fall.

“There is time,” Walsh said. “After September/October is kind of when we want the decision made, but if it can’t be it will go on,” Walsh said, noting a final decision could theoretically be pushed back to as late as January 2025.

He said SD68 staff have been invited to several impacted schools to discuss pending changes.

Walsh noted the proposed changes “should eliminate” portables at Departure Bay and Randerson, while “minimize need” at McGirr and Frank J. Ney.

School board trustee Tania Brzovic said it’s important that the SD68 maintains its spirit of public engagement…

“..In making sure that as we take these steps we are including the community all the way and finding out any questions and concerns they have so that we can do our best to address them and I think this is the best way to go about that.”

The re-opening of Rutherford is one of many steps the District is considering to address growing concerns around school capacity, especially in the city’s north end.

Rutherford school closed in June 2018.

SD68 secretary-treasurer Mark Walsh addressed trustees during a special board meeting on Wednesday, May 15. (SD68)

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Ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes