Snowy conditions forced the cancellation of last week’s Neighbourhood of Learning public consultation meeting.
The meeting has been re-scheduled for Monday, March 7, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Cowichan Lake Sports Arena’s new upstairs multi-purpose room.
This make-up meeting will be the second of two such meetings wherein public feedback is to be sought in regard to what the community would like involved in a new Lake Cowichan elementary school, which is currently at the top of School District 79’s priority list of capital projects.
Although consultant Sue Plester will take considerations from the public, the following elementary school partner ideas are no longer on the table:
Public library, as the school site is not visible or central enough; RCMP detachment, as the existing building has been renovated to suit their needs; Community Services Society has their own building and land, which continues to meet their needs; A community policing office would be redundant, as they’re found in centres where need and capacity is higher – usually with over 50 police officers; Post office, as the current location is central, has parking, a long history, and long-term lease.
So far, the preferred location for a new elementary school has been determined to be the old AB Greenwell Elementary School site; a school that shut down a few years ago due to mould issues.
As of press time, the first public consultation meeting was scheduled to have taken place during the evening of Monday, February 28. An article on the meeting will appear on the Gazette’s website, www.lakecowichangazette.com, by Tuesday morning.