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SD5 to make Mount Baker pitch to Education Minister
Minister of Education George Abbott will meet with School District 5 (SD5) Trustees after his tour of schools on January 27. According to SD5 Mount
Baker Replacement Committee Chair, Chris Johns, the replacement of the aging high school as a Neighbourhood Learning Centre (NLC) is top of the agenda.
Abbott will be meeting with the District Parents Advisory Committee on Thursday afternoon. On Friday the Minister will spend most of the day with SD5 Administration visiting the Strong Start Centre at Amy Woodland Elementary and participating in the innovative “Sound Connections” literacy program demonstration at Gordon Terrace Elementary.
Abbott will conclude his visit with a tour of Mount Baker and dinner with SD5 Trustees. Mount Baker Leadership students John Miller and Mallory Balfour will guide Minister Abbott on an extensive 90 minute tour of the school highlighting a number of programs and services including multi-media, the arts and Aboriginal education.
Following the tour the minister will receive a number of short presentations from community supporters of the NLC initiative, including the City of Cranbrook, College of the Rockies, Ktunaxa and Metis representatives and Elders and others.
Trustee Trina Ayling will also provide the minister with a brief summary of what the district has done toward the Neighbourhood Learning Centre initiative, including a petition of support for the initiative signed by community representatives that make up the MBSS NLC Advisory Committee.
Trustee Johns – who will also join the minister on his tour of Mount Baker — credits SD5 Administration and East Kootenay MLA Bill Bennett for getting the minister to Cranbrook.
“Bill gets it. He understands our needs. And we know he’s working hard behind the scenes to make things happen,” said Johns. “Obviously, having the Education Minister come out to tour Mount Baker reflects those efforts.”
Johns remains hopeful that a go-ahead on replacing Mount Baker is imminent, pointing out that government recently announced two NLC approvals, including West Kelowna which is just now starting public consultation.
“Mount Baker was identified three years ago as being over capacity with deteriorating conditions, and SD5 therefore made it our number one replacement priority for the whole District,” said Johns. “Frankly, we’ve done more work and more public consultation on this NLC initiative than any other district in the province, including those districts that have been approved.
“Not surprisingly community groups, parents, students and teachers are telling us that the time has arrived for the Minister to give us a firm timeline for replacement.”
For more information on the NLC initiative please visit sd5.bc.ca.
