Lets Get Back To The Table In Dunster

Friday, August 20, 2010 03:44 AM

It’s about time that the District 57 School brass got on the phone and reopened the negotiations with the Dunster parents in an effort to keep that school open.

By way of back ground, the Dunster parents offered $10 dollars for the school, the School District countered with $39,500 or so.

Now if that school sits empty for a few years, say for example like the McLeod Lake School has, put a price on what it will be worth then.

Why not make a deal at even $20,000 re paid over 10 years, interest free? Common sense will tell you that if the building sits vacant for a number of years, the ten dollar figure will be more than ample for a building that will become no more than a hunk of junk.

The School District also needs to keep in mind another item. The District will not receive any money per student if the parents opt to begin home schooling.

Suggesting that the kids will need to go to school in McBride this year while negotiating the matter ads insult to injury and makes the residents of the Dunster area only harden their position.

I’m Meisner and that’s one man’s opinion.

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Posted on Friday, August 20, 2010 03:44 AM in Views by Ben Meisner

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Comments

Posted by: faxman on August 20 2010 9:09 AM

$39,500 is a fair price for that building. If the parents want it, they should pony up the cash instead of asking for what is essentially a tax payer bail out.

Posted by: kolberg on August 20 2010 9:42 AM

Why all this effort into buying the building? Why don't the Dunster Parents just rent it for a few years to see if they can make a go of it? The SD would probably rent it to them for free as long as they cover the expenses. Running a school is a complex business. They need to focus on signing up students, getting teachers and staff, budgeting, revenues, etc. They are putting the cart before the horse.

Posted by: kolberg on August 20 2010 9:56 AM

FYI. McBride is around 35km from the Dunster School. A lot of the Dunster students probably live on the north side of the Fraser along Hwy 16. For many students, getting to McBride would probably not be much harder than getting to the Dunster School.

Posted by: gamblor on August 20 2010 2:03 PM

exactly. there are other rural schools that need to kept open more than Dunster.

Posted by: gus on August 21 2010 4:49 PM

Here I my questions and concerns.

What are the principles under which the province and our SD operate under with respect to rural schools, small schools, multi-grade classrooms, teacher workloads in such situations, travel distance/time standards for children of various ages, per pupil funding versus school/class unit funding, and so on.

What are the demographic projections for rural school locations.

What special education is in place for those who may end up teaching in such small schools. (see attached link) http://www.mun.ca/educ/faculty/mwatch/fall96/mulcahy.htm

I think Dunster, and perhaps the entire McBride-Valemount corridor should take a serious look at creating a "centre of excellence" which would address the issues of primary and secondary education and how to retain and improve the delivery of that education in remote regions of BC and Canada.

This is a reality. If the SD and the Province is sweeping it under the table and simply crying economics, then I think they should give the challenges a bit more thought.

The thoughts of the author of the writing linked above are worthwhile noting. I think those who are looking after education delivery for us have been taking the "easy" way out.

Dunster seems to be trying to work with an organization that is totally disinterested even though we have handed them the responsibility of providing public education.

Posted by: commoner on August 21 2010 10:46 PM

That school building was paid for by the taxpayers. Parents should not have to pay anything for that building. Period.