VSB School Development Plan to be Released June 4th

A special school board working group will publicly release it’s final recommendations for the Dunbar/UBC area of the district Wednesday, June 4th. There are few indications of what the report might actually entail. A swirl of rumours have suggested everything from a UBC/St. Georges/Province joint venture/land swap to nothing at all. The clearest indication comes from a meeting with school representative committees early in May where a draft development plan was presented. The plan contained very little real detail with the notable exception of a single page of ‘plans’ that included transforming U Hill into a science/math/technology high school in the former NRC Building on campus and closing the annex facility of Queen Elizabeth School. No details were provided at that meeting.

Ken Denike, chair of the VSB special working group and his collegue U HIl Liason trustee, Carol Gibson, attend a special joint U Hill Secondary and Elementary Parent Advisory Committee meeting May 28. At the meeting trustte Gibson reitereated her support of U HIll’s strong need for new facilities. Dr. Denike was somewhat more circumspect in his comments and was not able to offer much one way or the other.

Also in attendance was former MP and current VP-External for UBC, Stephen Owen. Mr. Owen made it clear that UBC continues to offer a very significant package to the school board and the province and remains strongly supportive of rebuilding schools in the community. A staff person from MLA and Premier Campbell’s constituency office was present, but had nothing to say. Many parents at the meeting expressed a hope that Mr. Campbell might take note of the condition of his alma matter.

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