From: Steve Rae Sent: Friday, August 30, 2013 6:36 PM To: peter.fassbender.mla@leg.bc.ca; premier@gov.bc.ca Cc: savecedarschools@gmail.

com; Chief Douglas White III (douglaswhite@snuneymuxw.ca); Douglas Routley (D.Routley@leg.bc.ca); 'jbrennan@sd68.bc.ca'; 'david.hutchinson@sd68.bc.ca'; Steve Rae (msrae@shaw.ca); Alec McPherson (alecmcpherson@shaw.ca); 91. 7 Coast Radio (onair@917coastfm.com); CBC (cbcnewsvancouver@cbc.ca); Check TV (tips@checknews.ca); Cowichan News Leader (arts@cowichannewsleader.com); CTV Nanaimo (andrew.garland@bellmedia.ca); Global BC (tips@globaltvbc.com); info@islandradio.bc.ca; Ladysmith Chronicle (editor@ladysmithchronicle.com); mid island news; Nanaimo Bulliten (reporter@nanaimobulletin.com); Nanaimo Daily News (rbarron@nanaimodailynews.com); Nanaimo Daily News 2; News 1130; nwnews@cknw.com; Parksville Qualicum News (reporter@pqbnews.com); Paul Chapman (pchapman@theprovince.com); Rob Shaw; Shaw; The Tyee; Times Colonist (localnews@timescolonist.com); Vancouver Province (tabtips@theprovince.com); Vancouver Sun (npalmer@vancouversun.com); Victoria News (editor@vicnews.com) Subject: Our Kids in Danger

Mr. Fassbender, As you are well aware, we are in a fight up here in Cedar to save our high school. You are well aware of the issues at hand. You had told us when we came to Victoria with our petitions that this is a local issue and that you were not getting involved unless there was something untoward going on. You have received dozens of emails and letters from concerned parents and students in this community, as well as business owners and different levels of Government. We have done what you have asked, we have tried to deal with Mr. Jamie Brennan, Trustee chair, as well as the rest of SD68 staff with no luck. He refused to walk in the front door of the SD68 offices where several people were gathered and snuck in a side door. He told us from the floor of the SD68 meeting on August 28 in his own colorful way that.. the bell has rung. Not only is this an insult, it is very discouraging that someone in his position would be so closed minded. He seems to have forgotten he doesnt report to our CEO, Mr David Hutchinson, he is voted in by us, the taxpayers. He will find that out next election cycle in the fall of 2014. The problem with that, as Mr. Brennan is well aware, is it will be too late. He has recently said in the press that these decisions need to be made BEFORE the silly election season (Jan 9 Nanaimo Daily News)..the silly election season.. Wow.. how condescending and arrogant is that? "This school board is now in the middle of its term in office and it's time to make some of the tough decisions that will have to be made in regards to our facilities," Brennan said."I think we have to make these decisions as soon as possible before the 'silly' election season begins soon. Player is detached from our day-to-day operations and shouldn't be unduly influenced by our history on this issue." - See more at: http://www.nanaimodailynews.com/school-district-brings-in-new-special-consultant1.237139#sthash.nOwmJCbr.dpuf We sent a letter with 8 questions on July 22 and got a response that the Trustees would deal with this when they got back on Aug 28. We then received an interesting response from Mr. Hutchinson on Aug 27. HE wants to build a state of the art 21 century Elementary School. Isnt that an election issue? Shouldnt we have a say in that? If you were to ask the people of this community, they would tell you they want k-12. I know this because I speak to them every day. Something they have neglected to do in this process.

Why were we ignored for several weeks and why did Mr. Hutchinson respond? We wanted to hear from the people whom we elected! I have said this from the beginning ..They are trying to fundamentally change the way they educate our kids. This is a dangerous precedentwhats next?....whos next? This isnt democracy. This is Canada in 2013 isnt it? The latest RED FLAG came yesterday when Mr. Brennan sent a letter to the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resources begging them to close Colliery Dams as it is an extreme risk of damage and loss of life to the students and staff of John Barsby. The Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District is requesting that the province step into the controversy over the Colliery Dams. In a letter to the Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources Operations, Steve Thomson, the school board said that "in light of the risk of failure of the dams, we ask you to require the city to take immediate action to address the risks to life and property posed by the unsafe dams. The letter, endorsed by all nine trustees, said that should the city fail to take immediate action to address the "extreme risks to damage and loss of life," the board requests that the province's water controller or regional water manager take "immediate steps" to address the risks posed by the dams and to recover any and all related costs from the city, as stipulated by the Water Act. The letter states that the district's concerns are "particularly grave" due to the location of John Barsby Secondary School, which is located directly downstream from the dams. A dam failure would create severe damage to the school and the loss of life would likely be extensive," the letter said. The removal of the dams have been a contentious issue since October, when council voted at an in-camera session to remove the structures, which have been cited as a public safety risk by both city and provincial officials. The decision resulted in strong protest from park users and residents, which prompted council to shift its stance on the issue and the window of opportunity to remove the dams this year has passed. The city is now in discussions with Snuneymuxw First Nation to reach a joint decision on how to proceed with the dams. School board chairman Jamie Brennan is the husband of Dianne Brennan, one of the Nanaimo city councilors who supported the immediate demolition of the dams. But he denied that it had anything to do with the board's decision. The decision of the board on this issue was unanimous," he said. "As a board, we're very concerned about the safety of our students and staff." - See more at: http://www.nanaimodailynews.com/school-district-wades-into-fray1.607026#sthash.kRDvjN7n.dpuf (Article Nanaimo Daily News Aug 30 titled School district ways into fray) The same school he is trying to send our 450 plus kids to. What is also interesting about this is his wife Dianne Brennan sits as a city councilor and has excused herself on any issues with an apparent or perceived conflict with SD68. He doesnt appear to believe the same applies to him. As we sit today the City of Nanaimo is very upset with Mr. Brennan because they have told him to stay out of this and he went off on his own and wrote this letter. He is somewhat of a renegade.

Councilor not happy with School Board letter to province

The School District 68 Board of Education wants the Colliery Dams removed at the earliest possible opportunity. The board has sent a letter, addressed to Steve Thomson, Minister of forests, lands and natural resource operations, asking the province to require the city to take immediate action to address the risk to life and property. Board Chair Jamie Brennan says the board was under the impression the dams were going to be removed. He says when they were made aware that wasn't happening, they had to act because of their concern for their staff and students at John Barsby.

Councilor Bill McKay says the letter could be a retaliation of sorts, since council voted against involving the school board in the ongoing long term mitigation plans for the dams. McKay says mayor and council had no idea the letter was being prepared, let alone sent to the province. He says it's not helpful and while he understands their concerns, it's unfortunate that this letter came out.(102.3 the Wave news Aug 30th)

Two things Mr. Brennan was counting on for his plan to work: The kids of South Wellington to attend the New Cedar Elementary School. They will not, and have registered at Chase River Elementary leaving several empty seats at their proposed new school. The Colliery Dam to close.. Which as you know did not happen.

It is clear to everybody that Mr. Brennan and the rest of SD68 have an agenda here.
Dont you think it is time to step back and have a hard look at this plan they are trying to ram through? Is this enough UNTOWARD behavior for you?? Attached is a fact sheet that separates the truth from the nonsense Mr. Brennan is trying to peddle. Please take a look This is extremely troubling on several levels not the least being a significant safety issue for our children. I am appealing to you father to father Stop this nonsense before it is too late. I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Best regards, Steve

Save Cedar Schools

FACT SHEET
SD68 Board: The decision to close Cedar Secondary is about excess space & declining enrolment.

FACT: Cedar Secondary is currently operating at 107% capacity.

SD68 Board: The decision is about offering Cedars students the best educational opportunities available. Cedar Secondary, is unable to offer a full range of secondary programs due to its size, - Superintendent Dave Hutchinson, August 27, 2013

FACT: Cedar Secondary post-secondary attendance rate is 20-30% (SD68 avg. is 7-12%) Cedar
Secondary graduation rate is 97.1% (SD68 avg. is 92.1%) Cedar Secondary ranked 6th most-improved in the Province (Fraser Institute, 2013) SD68 Board: Our decisions in Cedar are all about guaranteeing our students more opportunities and more programs to choose from. - Trustee TerryLynn Saunders (Nanaimo Daily News, Aug 1, 2013).

FACT: Cedar Secondary has more extra-curricular programming & sports teams currently offered at many
optimally sized SD68 secondary schools. Cedar is also home to many extra-curricular programs not available elsewhere in SD68, including the Boys to Men Club & Spectrum Program. As planned, Cedar students will be bussed to/from Barsby & wont be able to participate in before/after school programs. On June 26th, Trustee Saunders said that after Cedar Secondary opened, dropout rates have decreased significantly & grad rates have increased significantly. SD68 Board: Cedar Secondary does not meet the optimal school size of 600-1200 students as designated by the board in the Enhance Facilities for Learning Plan. It is important that schools are of the right size so that we can offer a full array of programs, said Jamie Brennan (Nanaimo News Bulletin, January 16, 2013)

FACT: The same report that the board uses to justify their optimal school size of 600-1200 states that small schools are more efficient and cost effectivebecause small secondary schools manage to graduate a significantly larger proportion of their students than do large secondary schools. This same report states that smaller schools do not seem to be an impediment to the learning of more advantaged and/or high achieving students and that Secondary schools serving a student population exclusively or largely from diverse and/or disadvantaged backgrounds should be limited in size to about 600 students or FEWER.
SD68 Board: The best long-term sustainable school improvement option is to renovate Cedar Secondary as a state of the art 21st century elementary school, rather than to renovated schools where the bulk of the investment will be in expensive mechanical and seismic upgrades that do not necessarily lend themselves to enhancing the learning environment. (Superintendent Dave Hutchinson, August 27, 2013)

FACT: Cedar Secondary is the newest secondary in the district & is rated 2nd best on the SD68 Facility
Condition Index that compares all 42 District schools. John Barsby is 31st of 41, Woodbank is 14th of 41 & North Oyster is 20th of 41. The board wants to close these two perfectly good buildings & spend money - in a time of great financial hardship - to renovate the BEST RATED secondary & turn it into an elementary school. (Note: Seismic upgrade money comes from the Province, not the boards operating expenditures. Money to renovate Cedar Secondary will come from the boards annual Facilities Grant.) The plan to repurpose a high school into an elementary school will not give us a 21st century elementary school, as the Board contents (Elementary students using a huge re-purposed high school is not an enhanced learning environment, its The SD68 Enhanced Facilities Plan doesnt enhance any facility for Cedar students.