A report on possibilities for the Sechelt neighbourhood of learning was released this week, but the options don't include the cultural complex idea talked about last year.
When the school district decided to close Sechelt Elementary School in early 2010, they also committed to pursuing a neighbourhood learning centre at the site.Discussions over what that centre would look like have been ongoing in the community, and in May of this year, consultants, stakeholders and the school district came up with three options that meet the provincial criteria for a neighbourhood of learning.
"We found that some ideas, including a proposal by one group to turn the site into a cultural complex, did not meet the guiding principles expressed in the report, did not meet the provincial vision for neighbourhood learning centres and did not meet our board's vision and mission," board chair Silas White said in his report on the subject at the Sept. 13 school board meeting.
He said the site does not offer adequate parking for the cultural complex idea and that the space is too limited.
"So it appears by its size and ambition that it would need to be situated somewhere with more space to accommodate it, especially considering that our first priority for space is education, which was not reflected in the [cultural complex] committee's plan," White said.
The three revised options now being presented to the public for the Sechelt Elementary site include a resource centre/special opportunities use, a children's village/integrated services use or a site build-out option that could accommodate portions of a cultural arts centre.
The first option would provide a district-wide resource centre and special opportunities complex for the arts, music, environment and other activities not available in individual schools; expansion of alternative programs from the children's learning centre, including StrongStart and the alternative school; and expansion of the francophone school.
The second option includes a district-wide children's campus for integrated services including a family centre, health education, parent and family studies, elder college and lounge area, StrongStart, alternative school and expansion of the francophone school, which would all be accommodated on site with a visual arts centre or museum and carving shed.
The third and final option identified in the report is a build-out option that accommodates uses like a new administrative centre, campus library, a visual arts centre and a museum.
The three options and ideas will be taken by the district back to stakeholders for further discussion.
"The three revised options as presented will serve as excellent conversation starters in order to strengthen the concepts and partnerships needed to revitalize this site as a vibrant learning hub for the village of Sechelt," White said.
