Restoration crews and school district officials on the scene of a flooding event at the rural school. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

flooded school

Extensive water damage shuts down École North Oyster School south of Nanaimo

Sep 15, 2022 | 4:03 PM

NANAIMO — An elementary school south of the airport will remain closed for the rest of the week as crews repair flood damage.

Early morning rain through the region is suspected to have caused substantial flood damage at École North Oyster elementary on Cedar Rd., with School District 68 officials becoming aware of the situation early Thursday, Sep. 15.

District officials made the call to close the school for the day at around 7:30 a.m.

Don Balcombe, district assistant supt. of secondary programs and French Immersion, told NanaimoNewsNOW there was extensive damage due to a roof leak spreading into multiple classrooms in the main building.

“We have facilities staff and contractors on site, they’re addressing the matter to ensure the school’s going to open in a safe way. Clean up is expected to run right through the weekend.”

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The goal is to have classes resume for all students on Tuesday, Sep. 20.

Families were notified as early as possible Thursday morning, but some either missed the message or had already sent their kids to school by bus.

Balcolmbe said staff worked quickly to contact parents of bussed in kids, giving them the option to head home or stay in one of five on site portables.

Teachers were also out front of the school during the morning drop-off, talking with parents.

“We did some extra bus runs. The school staff were amazing, they called families for bus students by about 9:30 a.m. asking if it was possible to do a run home earlier, so they did a run mid-morning then those students who stayed did their regular bus run home at the end of the day.”

Extent of the damage is not known, but the District is expecting to have to replace a long list of school equipment as well as any personal gear teachers or students had in class.

École North Oyster has around 370 students attending on any given day.

Work is expected to continue at North Oyster elementary through the long weekend, in a bid to clean up and repair the school for classes on Tuesday, Sep. 20. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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