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Nanaimo-Cowichan MP Crowder talks budget P. 18
Serving Ladysmith, Chemainus and area
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Local skier off to BC Winter Games P. 13
Kay Rogerson celebrated her 100th birthday with lots of family and friends on February 8, 2014. A huge Canuck fan, she received a jersey with her name and the number 100, signed by the entire Canucks team. SUBMITTED
Davis Road parents bemoan SD68 decision
Ross Armour THE CHRONICLE
With School District 68 choosing to close École Davis Road Elementary this June, the pain and reality is just settling in for EDR parents and advocates. Students currently enrolled at the school will now need to choose between Ladysmith Primary, Ladysmith Intermediate, or North Oyster Elementary, with French Immersion only being offered at the latter beginningSeptember 2014.
“There could not have been a worse outcome for Ladysmith schools at [the] school board meeting (Feb. 6),” said Carrie Segreto from Davis Road’s Parent Advisory Council in an email. “To say we’re upset is an understatement. The appalling actions of the School District 68 trustees and staff in the past year can only be described as bullying. They have acted in an unacceptable, disrespectful, and just simply scandalous manner in enforcing their
Enhanced Facilities plan, and assure my Plan.” children that moving Segreto will be one them to North Oyster driving to North Oys- for French Immersion ter everyday come is the best thing to do. September in order to But I cannot accept keep her kids in the defeat when the game French Immersion was full of misrepprogram — but she’s resentation, played not happy about it. unfairly and with so “I would like to ac- much disrespect to cept this and move the players. And I forward [as] school cannot accept a plan closures happen all that is bad not only the time, right? After for our children but our school’s com- for the residents and munity has fought Town of Ladysmith as for almost a year to well,” wrote Segreto. keep École Davis “Davis Road’s catchRoad open, I would ment area is the only like to admit defeat, one in all Ladysmith find the positives in zone schools in which the school board’s current enrolment
projections show sub- school year was full numerous letters stantial growth in the with a waiting list of and social media, population. [It] has 11 children.” Davis Road parents been operating at apSegreto now feels have indicated they proximately 200 per the “hard work” put would not opt to have cent its capacity for in by prior Davis their children attend the past several years. Road parents in years- French Immersion Many families have gone-by, in order to at North Oyster Elmoved to the south establish French Im- ementary, mainly due side of Ladysmith mersion at the school, to its remote location. specifically for this has all gone down the Families chose to live popular, successful drain. in Ladysmith for its school with its amaz- “In moving the pro- small-town feel, walking group of staff gram out of a com- ability and close-knit and teachers and its munity, making it dif- community. strong, supportive ficult to access, the “For several years, parent community. school district is con- Davis Road was Even with the risk tributing to the ‘elit- among the top of the school being ist’ stigma associated three priorities in closed, enrolment for with French Immer- the district’s capiFrench Immersion sion. Over the past tal plan to be renoKindergarten at Davis months, at public vated or replaced. Road for the 2014/15 meetings and through See Page 4
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