PAC > School Closure > Correspondance > Letter Trustees May 5, 2008

Background of Letter

After the trustees voted to close the school the school community was faced with three tasks: plan transition to new schools, plan for eventual reopening/building of a new school on the same site and work toward turning an unfortunate closure into something positive for the neighbourhood.

Since the trustees indicated that they would like to work with the community in establishing a neighbourhood community centre, the parents felt it important to acknowledge this gesture of the trustees by sending them a letter to inform them that although we would prefer to have our school open, we want to work with the Trustees to achieve an outcome which at a minimum reduces the damage caused by the closure.

Letter

Mount Benson Elementary School PAC
4355 Jingle Pot Road
Nanaimo BC  V9T 5P4


May 5, 2008


Secretary Treasurer of
School District 68 Board of Education
395 Wakesiah Avenue 
Nanaimo BC V9R 3K6

Re: Mount Benson Elementary School Closure

Dear Mr. Green,

Please add this letter to the agenda of the next open board meeting of the SD68 Board of Education.
First we would like to thank the Trustees of School District 68 for consulting the public regarding its
recent decision to close Mount Benson School.    Although the PAC disagrees and is disappointed with
the decision, we very much appreciate that the Trustees recognized the importance of the site to the 
neighbourhood and its historical use as a community centre during times of closure.    


The Mount Benson PAC has asked the Wellington Action Committee to continue its legacy of supporting
neighbourhood students by coordinating with the School District, Crown, City and Community 
Association to successfully transition the school to a neighbourhood community centre.

 
Parents heard Trustees when they advised us that we needed to lobby the Ministry of Education if we 
wished to prevent future school closures.  Mount Benson Parents will vigorously try to work with the 
Ministry of Education to work toward preventing further closures and for the reopening of Mount 
Benson School.


Parents look forward to establishing a positive relationship with School District 68 in working towards 
improving public education in the Wellington Neighbourhood.  


Sincerely,


Sharon Preston
Mount Benson Elementary School PAC President

cc: Minister of Education

Board Response

The letter was added to the May 28, 2008 Board of Education Agenda as item 10.6 with a copy of the letter on page 28 of the agenda.

The letter was favourably discussed at the meeting.