Current School Board Threw Away $87,000,000.00
Follows are the names of the school trustees elected in the 2008 election, it should be noted that this is the school board who ripped up the agreement with the provincial government that would have seen $87 million come into the district to renew Nanaimo schools.
If ever there was an example of how poorly the community as a whole can be served when special interest groups get elected this was it. Usually with all the hoopla surrounding city hall candidates quite often the equally as important school board gets ignored.
The following trustees are the ones responsible for cheating Nanaimo families and children out of $87 million of funding that was in place after countless hours and effort by previous school boards. If you think they should be re-elected, then be sure to vote for them.
- Donna Allen
- Nelson Allen
- Andrea Bonkowski
- Jamie Brennan
- Ron Dale
- Carol McNamee
- David Murchie
- Dot Neary
- Sharon Welch
If you are serious about making your vote count, find out how the new slate of candidates stand on renewing our aging schools and if they would try and resurrect the program scuttled by the current board.
Actually I beleive Dot Neary, Jamie Brennan and Ron Dale all voted to keep the plan. It was the other six who voted it down.
ReplyDeleteWas this money to build new "super -schools" or to renovate existing ones? Your post is inflammatory without being factual.
ReplyDeleteOnly 6 out of 9 Trustees voted to throw away $87M and 4 of them are running in this election; Donna Allen, Nelson Allen, David Murchie and Sharon Welch. The worst part is the justification keeps changing. First it was, they weren't sure the money was actually there. Second was no guarantees they would get all of the money. Now they are saying it was going to cost $100M and kids would once again be in portables. Nelson Allen wanted the Board to include the Board office, shops, bus shop, Serauxmen, and the Rotary Bowl which would have cost a total of $100M but rest assured the only part that was on the table was the site that NDSS was on and that was it. He frequently changes history when it suits him.
ReplyDeleteThe old plan cannot be resurrected. The new Board will have to start all over again. Not only did our students lose out but the citizens of Nanaimo lost millions of dollars in jobs and our small businesses lost revenue due to those jobs going to another school district that didn't have personal agendas clouding their judgement. Dot Neary and Jamie Brennan are running in this election and they voted to keep the 87 million dollars. But Donna and Nelson Allen, David Murchie and Sharon Welch voted to say no to the money from the government and they are also running in this election. They also voted to never close a school again which effectively means no money for this district for any plan because the government won't fund new facilities projects unless they can show a need such as no more room. This district doesn't have that problem.
ReplyDeleteLet me guess - the 87 million would coming from...us? the taxpayers?
ReplyDeleteHello people, the money isn't "free" stop acting like the money is free!
No the money is not "free" but it was all in place when 6 of these trustees threw the plan away and that money just went to a different school district instead. Its not like the provincial government just gave the tax payers a break on that 87 million!!
ReplyDeleteGet serious - Nice list of names on this slate. "Cheated? " Seriously?? Can you be more obvious? Care to put your name to that? I grew up in Nanaimo and with these people who have worked in the school system their whole life. They have dedicated most of their lives to Nanaimo & surrounding communities. They live & breathe schools & education. Some were my teachers. Some were my parents. I grew up seeing countless elections and years of dedicated service from these people-in all the schools, in City Hall, every Wednesday Night at the School Board office & everything in between. They ARE the rocksteady, backbone of Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Lantzville & District.
ReplyDeleteEach and every decision is made weighing the good & the bad. Sometimes its a choice between bad and worse, given the budgets they have to work with and the hidden agendas of those who don't tell the public their real motives. I back them 100%. They stand for the families, the youth and the children of Nanaimo & District and transparency for all. They are mentors, the dedicated & now some are the Elders. They have helped countless people in their off hours with a myriad of issues and they do not back down. They believe public really means public. Been there-seen it-lived it. There should be a dozen more like this on the Island. Anyone who runs for office puts themselves out there every day. Even those I don't agree with, I have respect for those running for any office. These people you have listed here taught me that.
The voters decide - they always do! Win, lose or draw- These folks Rock. (That would be the Verb - not the Noun).
P.S and by the way - to the Writer - Your 1st paragraph - last word - you might want to check your spelling of the word "Schools". Just sayin'.....
ReplyDelete@Loud and Proud... thanks for the proof reading/correction.
ReplyDeleteAll articles on this site are authored by myself.
I stand by my assertion that Nanaimo has been cheated out of what would have been a huge improvement to Nanaimo schools. The trustees who threw out the plan put together by the previous board claimed to have an acceptable alternative. Well, three years later, and they have accomplished nothing. Except cater to the interests of special interest groups with their own agenda, which did indeed not serve Nanaimo well at all.
How's life in Fort McMisery???
Please fix your list. Jamie Brennan, Dot Neary and Ron Dale voted to keep the $87 million for an approved plan to renew schools in the district. Jamie and Dot are running in this election and it is not fair that they be put in the same league as Nelson and Donna Allen, David Murchie and Sharon Welch who voted 'no' on the plan. They are running for re-election too so they should be on your list of those who gave back money that would have created 100's of jobs bringing millions of dollars into our community.
ReplyDeleteKeep NDSS or upgrade Barsby. Thanks to those who didn't want to make Harewood poorer.
ReplyDeleteIf you refer to the proposed Woodlands site: I attended Woodlands School. There is very little land there for a new school. Very constricted. If memory serves me correct, and I'm very sure it does - the intersection nearest Woodlands School and the highway has one of the highest accident/collision rates on Vancouver Island- never a good thing with young people and new drivers around. Safety is always key. As well, the demographics of that area do not support a new school at that location. It has a high rate of declining enrollment. I've also attended NDSS, which is a great school and close to the University, which encourages young people to explore that avenue. There are many that think the incredible strides made to that school such as the attached aquatic centre are a fabulous addition to an area that some would describe as a lower socio-economic region. It keeps the school & services more acessible to those without transportation and within walking distance. One has to wonder- if NDSS was closed, who would be in line for that very excellent tract of land. As for your spelling - I'm sure it was an oversight.
ReplyDeleteTwo points:
ReplyDelete1. If memory serves me correctly, when the issue of school closures was in the public eye, there were many meetings for deciding which Secondary school site would be used for the new school, with Woodlands being selected. Part of the reason was that the board which created this plan, had "unofficial" talks with VIU for the purchase of the NDSS site; talks which they denied despite there being written evidence from VIU inquiring about the availability of the land.
2. Just because the provincial government "promised" money for the schools does not mean that they would not turn around and say no; remember no HST.
The plan that was turned on it's ear had been studied by the previous board and accepted by the Province.
ReplyDeleteDid all in the city agree??? That does not mean the new board made the right decision by a long shot.
Tonight's results see only 2 who turfed the old plan re-elected.
That probably says something about what the public thinks.
As usual though voter turnout is abysmal, so what NANAIMO really thinks about the school system is still a mystery.
We are failing democracy I fear.
You are correct. The voter turnout is abysmal. And the true feeling of the community on any issue is not truly known- short of an Arab Spring situation. In any case, Congratulations should go out to all those who ran in any of the elections! Without them it would be a pretty sad situation all around. I can hardly remember an election my father didn't win in the last 35 years. There is very few. It's an outstanding record of achievement. I have at least 35 years of good guy stories! It formed a very big part of who I am. I always take the High Road and learned that controversy is part of the process. If you believe in it and believe it’s the best thing for the community- then fight for it-be loyal to your cause- regardless of your popularity.
ReplyDeleteYou learn to take the disappointments also. For most of us our disappointments are private – Not so if you are a candidate. You learn to say hello and goodbye with Style & Grace. The folks who didn’t win this time will shake it off in 24 hours. One door closes and many more open. There is always a place for people who spend their life in the service of the public.
Those who didn't win this time have dozens/hundreds of community groups who will be thrilled if these community minded people can now offer their skills, commitment and time to help them out. These folks don't go away or fade away. While others sleep in or do our own thing- these good people, who have the same 24 hours as us, make more time by being up at the crack of dawn and work late into the night. I happen to know a few whose Rotary Club is helping repair a school and build wells in a far less fortunate area of the World. “There but for the Grace of God go I.’ comes to mind. In Canada, we are always, even at our worst, in the top 10% of the Worlds richest people. Apx “80% of humanity lives on less than $10 dollars a day” and many of these on less than $2.50 a day. My reading shows that “almost a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names.” I think you would agree Mr.Taylor, we are indeed the fortunate.
So the ones that may not have won and even the ones who did are highly likely to take up another cause for the good of the people. The candidate you might least like is hardly a cloaked Darth Vader.
As for Fort McMurray and your previous inquiry – it is not for the weak. Many come and many leave broke. It’s an incredibly expensive community which leaves no room for financial error. With the great news on Kitimat, the Shale Oil projects, concrete plans to market out of country and the new ship building contracts for Vancouver & Victoria my hope is that all of us who had to follow the work – can follow it back home to B.C. My preference will always be Nanaimo and Vancouver Island. I wouldn’t have wanted to grow up anywhere else.