North Okanagan-Shuswap school board dismissed due to lack of confidence, money management

June 15, 2016 - 1:45 PM By Ashley Lgeassic INFONEWS.CA
OKANAGAN - All trustees have been dismissed and a former Surrey School District superintendent will take over as official trustee for School District 83 (North Okanagan- Shuswap), Minister of Education Mike Bernier announced today.The dismissal of the board was recommended by special advisor Elizabeth Watson in her report released today, June 15. That report found the board is not functioning well, the situation appears to be deteriorating rapidly, and the board had lost the confidence of the community.Watson was appointed this past April at the request of the board to evaluate the North Okanagan - Shuswap board's governance practices as well as its approach to financial matters and fiscal management.
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http://www.sd83.bc.ca/
Former Surrey School District superintendent Mike McKay has been appointed as official trustee for School District 83 (North Okanagan – Shuswap), Minister of Education Mike Bernier announced today.
The dismissal of the board was recommended by special advisor Elizabeth Watson in her report released today. That report found the board is not functioning well, the situation would appear to be deteriorating rapidly, and the board had lost the confidence of the community. Watson had been appointed this past April at the request of the board to evaluate the North Okanagan – Shuswap board’s governance practices as well as their approach to financial matters and fiscal management.
"Dismissing a board is neither pleasant nor easy, but this unusual step is required at this time so the public can have faith in the administration of education in their community," said Bernier. “It’s also a step that ensures the school district in question fulfils its responsibilities to the community and to taxpayers.”
McKay will assume all the duties and responsibilities typically required of a board of education for one year, including the obligations to conduct public board meetings and community consultations. The appointment could be extended if required. The official trustee’s first priority is meeting with school district senior staff to plan next steps.
Widespread community concerns about the overall performance of the board were sparked by the board transferring more than $10 million in operating surplus funds to fund capital projects like a new district office while it reduced its operating budget.
The remaining recommendations in Watson’s report will be considered once McKay is on the job and able to determine the best ways for the district to move forward. With more than 30 years of experience in public education, Mike McKay is widely regarded as one of the most respected and talented educational leaders in British Columbia.

School Bus Fine More Than Doubled

Posted on 5/16/2016 1:50 PM by Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM

Fines for drivers passing school buses with flashing lights in BC are more than doubling to $368. Transportation Minister Todd Stone says the increase follows a review of the penalties that found the previous fine of $167 was one of the lowest in Canada and not enough to deter drivers. Drivers will continue to receive three penalty points on top of the tougher fine. "It is important that all motorists understand that passing a school bus with flashing lights is dangerous and puts children's lives at risk," says Stone. "I want to thank the many parents, school bus drivers and school trustees who have brought this issue to the public's attention. It's a result of their tireless advocacy that we have increased the fines to send a message that the safety of our children must come first when driving near school buses." In BC, between 2009 and 2014, 1,100 violation tickets were issued by police for drivers that failed to stop for a school bus. To date, no child has died while getting on or off a school bus, but 14 children have been injured. "The safety of our children travelling to school by bus is a top priority for us," says Mike Bernier, Minister of Education. "The people who drive those buses have a responsibly to get them to school and home safely and we have a responsibility to support them." For a more information about driving penalties and escalating costs:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/BG_MOTI_Schoolbussafety.pdf

District faces major shortfall

by Katherine Mortimer - Vernon Morning Star posted Dec 20, 2015 at 1:00 AM
Enrolment may be up but the Vernon School District is still looking at a budget shortfall for the next school year. Secretary-treasurer Sterling Olson said it’s still early in the budget process, but the bottom line is that the district is looking at a shortfall of around $800,000 over two years. “That’s quite simply two issues that drive that,” he said. “One is government reducing funding and requiring boards to offset that with reductions to what they call non-instructional programs and services, which is around $400,000.” The other issue is that while the Ministry of Education is providing funds to cover the negotiated unionized collective agreement provision, they’re not putting any money in for other cost pressures, such as utility increases, MSP premium increases or anything for principals and vice-principals and other exempt staff. “So really, between the ministry reducing funding and some of those cost pressures not being funded, at this point in time the board will need to find ways to balance the budget,” said Olson. “We’ve got a number of months, so over those number of months we’ll be pulling together options and strategies for the board to achieve a balanced budget.” The board is required to approve an annual budget on or before June 30, 2016 for the 2016/17 school year. The adoption of the 2015/16 amended annual budget is scheduled for Feb. 24, 2016. At this point, Olson said no surplus is anticipated from the current school year to support the 2016/17 budget. The combination of $1,354,000 in projected cost pressures along with a projected revenue increase of $549,260 results in a projected budget shortfall of $804,740 for the 2016/17 school year. The board will be establishing other opportunities for the DPAC, First Nations representatives, and union representatives to discuss the budget development with the board. Other public input methods to the board will also be provided. “We need to find different ways to make sure that we’re getting stakeholder input into the process,” said Olson. “Not included of course is a lot of the work we do behind the scenes with district management, including principals and vice principals, to help provide information and recommendations back to the board but I think it’s important that some of the VTA, CUPE and DPAC have an ability to actually speak directly to the board.”
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Board salaries go up Kate Bouey - CASTANET Dec 19, 2015 / 5:00 am
Vernon's School District 22 board of education has given itself a raise. Trustee remuneration is based on annual surveys of districts of a similar size, budget and student population including, West Vancouver, New Westminster, Sooke, Saanich, Comox Valley and Cowichan Valley. Effective Dec. 1, board chair Kelly Smith's indemnity plus allowance goes up 9.5 per cent to $17,707 while regular trustees will see an 11.4 per cent hike to $14,958. “There was a lot of discussion about that, a lot,” admitted Smith, adding that it was not a unanimous vote. She refused to comment further and suggested checking the minutes for further information. However, none was available.

Tenant given time to go

Kate Bouey - CASTANET Nov 28, 2015 / 6:00 am

A City of Vernon tenant on the east side of 29th Street has been given notice to quit the premises. The Open Door education centre serves adults taking grade 10 to 12 courses, using computer managed instruction combined with direct one on one instruction by teachers. The program is run by School District 22 which has leased the City-owned site, at 2901 29th Street, for years. “The City has notified the district that it is demolishing the building next summer,” reads a memo to Vernon's school board from Superintendent of Schools Joe Rogers. “Our secretary-treasurer is currently examining all options for relocating the program.” In 2012, Vernon paid more than $1.1 million for the New Delhi Indian restaurant property at 2905 29th Street. The restaurant remained open for a time although it is now shut. That building and several others are slated for demolition. Mayor Akbal Mund has said that once the space has been cleared, he expects more downtown parking to be put in place to make up for spaces that may be lost if a senior's complex is built on the site of the current Bennett parking lot. The city has longterm plans to use 29th Street as a corridor, connecting Highway 6 with 27th Street.

Vernon School District joins list of superintendents with pay raises

By Charlotte Helston INFOTEL-Multimedia May 05, 2015 - 2:31 PM
VERNON - Despite tight financial times, the Vernon School District’s superintendent was granted a raise last year, the first for that position since 2006. Joe Rogers is one of at least two other Okanagan superintendents (Kelowna's Hugh Gloster and Penticton's Wendy Hyer) to receive a fatter salary after the Ministry of Education lifted a restriction on wage increases for the position. All other administrative wages remain frozen. School District 22 Board Chair Kelly Smith says the decision to increase his salary was made in October 2014. Rogers has 30 years of experience in education, some of it in the Vernon School District, and was hired as the superintendent in 2013. His salary was about $123,000 that year. The exact wage increase has not been discussed at a public meeting and is therefore not being made public at this time, Smith says. (more)
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http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/accountability/district/sofi/2014/SD22.pdf

BC Court of Appeal says teachers cannot bargain class sizes and composition

Posted By: Mary Griffin: April 30, 2015 CHEK
British Columbia’s highest court has ruled the province did not violate teachers’ charter rights, reversing two lower court decisions in favour of a union that has fought for class size and composition clauses in its contracts. The union has the option to seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, which has already heard previous cases involving the two sides. Two earlier rulings from the BC Supreme Court said the government infringed on teachers’ rights when it removed their ability to bargain class composition and size with separate legislation in 2002 and in 2012. Four of five appeal court judges agreed to overturn the latest ruling, writing that the province consulted with teachers in good faith negotiations leading up to the legislation. The appeal court also released a separate, unanimous decision that ensured that confidential cabinet documents that were revealed in the most recent trial would be kept secret. BC Supreme Court judge had ruled that BCTF could share its written submissions, which quoted from the private government documents, with its members, but the appeal court overturned that ruling.

Election 2014: Candidates seek return

by Katherine Mortimer - Vernon Morning Star posted Oct 29, 2014 at 1:00 AM
Two familiar faces are hoping to return to their work as trustees in the Vernon School District. Steve Connor spent 12 years as a trustee, while Perry Wainwright served three years, and both are hoping to claim two of the four Vernon/BX spots up for grabs Nov. 15. A father of two grown children, Connor has been a letter carrier with Canada Post for 40 years. “I have decided to run again because I believe I have the skills and experience to be an effective member of the board,” he said. “Having served for 12 years as a trustee, my background and work ethic will be a benefit to the community. I have always supported the employees of the district and would like the opportunity to once again do so.” For Connor, underfunding of education continues to be the big issue facing the district, but at the same time he wants to find a way to keep busing for those students who need it, at little or no cost to parents. “I also think it is important to retain our district-based bus drivers and buses,” he said. “Although the teachers and support staff have settled their respective collective agreements, pressure still needs to be put on this government to adequately fund education in this province.” Connor added that the board is the conduit between the community and the provincial government, and that the majority of the board’s budget is consumed by wages and maintenance. “The small amount remaining is what the trustees have left to decide how to use it most effectively to further the education of our kids,” he said. Wainwright and his wife, Lydia, have one son now in his fourth year at university. While running a landscaping/pruning business, Wainwright has always found time to give back to the community, from his work as a trustee to volunteering with the safe arrival program at Harwood Elementary School and serving on the board of the District Parent Advisory Council. “What I always enjoyed as a trustee was the interaction with the students and the teachers and administrators and going into the schools, where they are always so proud to show you what they’ve done,” he said. “If I’m elected, I look forward to representing the people of this district as I did before — I enjoyed my time on the board and I’m eager to go back to it.” Wainwright sees class size and composition as one of the most crucial issues in public education today, along with lack of funding for school districts. “We’re up 100 students, so hopefully declining enrolment is past us,” he said. Busing is also a concern, and Wainwright said if elected he’d like to meet with parents and learn about their concerns. “The 2.4 kilometre limit doesn’t seem like a lot, but on an icy road in the middle of winter, the darkness coming in earlier and earlier, then that makes a difference.” Also seeking a seat as Vernon/BX trustee are incumbents John Armstrong, Mollie Bono and Kelly Smith and newcomers Lisa de Boer and Brenda Giffin. Elsewhere in the district, Coldstream, incumbent trustee Bill Turanski is going up against Robert Lee Nov. 15.Incumbents Mitiz Fortin and Doris Square have been acclaimed to another term as the Lumby/Cherryville trustees.

VERNON SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEES ELECTION

http://www.election2014.civicinfo.bc.ca/2014/reports/candidates.asp

Tentative Teachers Deal Reached

Written by Glen Morrison 107.5 KISSFM Tuesday, 16 September 2014 05:11
There's a tentative deal in the British Columbia teachers' strike/lockout. The breakthrough on the fifth day of talks at a Richmond hotel with the help of mediator Vince Ready. Negotiations resumed last week under increasing pressure from the public and suggestions by the government that legislating an end to the dispute was an option. Last Wednesday, the B.C. Teachers' Federation voted 99.4% to end their dispute if the government agreed to binding arbitration -- something the government has repeatedly rejected. Teachers launched their full-scale job action two weeks before summer break and students have now missed over two weeks of their new school year. The timing is good, Vince Ready has an 8am flight to Toronto to oversee three days of mediation there.
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see also:  http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-teachers-strike-tentative-deal-reached-1.2767479
& http://infotel.ca/newsitem/bc-teachers-employers-reach-tentative-deal/it13007

Vernon school board won't support Lavington pellet plant

September 15, 2014 - 11:10 AM By Charlotte Helston Info-Tel Multimedia
VERNON - A proposed pellet plant in Lavington doesn’t have the support of the Vernon school district.In a letter to the Ministry of Environment, board chair Bill Turanski said the board received conflicting information about the project. “The board’s primary concern must, in every case, be the health and welfare of the students and if we err it will be on the side of caution.” Turanski said. The board held two meetings on the subject before sending its recommendations to the Ministry; one to hear from the operator of the plant, Pinnacle Renewable Energies (partnered with Tolko) and another to get input from concerned parents and community members. The proposed plant would go up beside Tolko’s existing mill near Lavington Elementary School. Pinnacle president Leroy Reitsma told school board trustees there was little risk to staff and student health but parents insisted particulate matter, fugitive dust, increased traffic, as well as noise and light pollution would impact health. A citizens group called Lavington is For Everyone (LIFE) collected over 500 signatures on a petition against the location of the proposed plant. Turanski said there were major conflicts with the data provided by both groups. “The school district does not have the expertise or the resources to determine the accuracy of the information provided in these presentations,” he said. “As a result, due to the uncertain nature of the information received, the board cannot endorse the construction of the pellet plant operation.” The board is urging the Ministry to review the proposal thoroughly and to ensure the safety and well-being of staff and students at Lavington Elementary. In August, the District of Coldstream granted Pinnacle the land rezoning required to build the plant in the intended location.

Teachers endorse binding arbitration

by Staff Writer - Vernon Morning Star posted Sep 11, 2014 at 6:00 AM
B.C. teachers appear united. A total of 30,490 teachers — 99.4 per cent —voted Wednesday in support of binding arbitration if the government agrees to participate. “Tomorrow morning, teachers could be setting up their classrooms and classes could start this week,” said Heather Malcolm, Vernon Teachers Association president, Wednesday. “Teachers, trustees, parents and students have all called for binding arbitration. The B.C. Liberals are the only ones refusing this workable solution.”

Teachers are proposing that salary, prep time, and benefits be sent to binding arbitration.They are also asking that the government leave class size and composition to the courts.“This means that the government must drop article E.80, which seeks to nullify any future court ruling in the teacher’s favour,” said Malcolm.

Education Minister Peter Fassebender opposes binding arbitration.“If the government thinks its proposal is fair, then there is nothing to fear from arbitration,” said Malcolm. “Instead, the government has not moved on any monetary proposals in negotiations since June. They have not offered one new dollar to deal with the learning needs of our students.”

Parents Can Now Apply For $40 School Payment

Written by 107.5 Kiss FM Sunday, 31 August 2014 13:00
Starting today, parents of public school students 12 years old and under can register at http://bcparentinfo.ca/ to receive $40 per student for each day school is not in session due to the ongoing labour disruption in B.C. public schools. The Temporary Education Support for Parents (TESP) program is intended to help parents with the added cost of learning and supervision for the duration of the labour disruption. Parents and primary caregivers are eligible to apply. Primary caregivers can include step-parents, legal guardians, foster parents, host parents for international students, caregivers with temporary custody arrangements, and family members who normally care for the student, such as grandparents. To register parents and primary caregivers will need to provide the name, address, date of birth, school district number and school for each eligible student. Payment will be made by cheque in a single payment mailed to the address provided during registration. Most payments will be processed within 30 days after the month that the labour disruption ends. Payments for students attending kindergarten, and for students who are new to B.C. public schools, will also be made after the labour disruption ends, once enrolment for the current school year can be confirmed. Eligible parents will have four months from the end of the month in which the labour disruption is settled to register for the temporary education support. No new registrations will be accepted after this date. For those without access to a computer, registration by paper form is also available by calling 1 877 387-3332 or 250 387-3332. The payment is not taxable and will not affect provincial and federal tax credits and benefits such as the new BC Early Childhood Tax Benefit, BC Low Income Climate Action Tax Credit, Sales Tax Credit or the federal Canada Child Tax Benefit or GST credit. The payment will not impact other provincial support assistance such as income or disability assistance, child care subsidy, subsidized housing,MSP subsidies, or Fair Pharmacare.

Second meeting over plant

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Aug 29, 2014 at 1:00 AM— updated Aug 29, 2014 at 6:00 AM
Vernon School District officials will gather more input on a proposed pellet plant, but they admit there is little they can do to stop the Lavington facility. Trustees voted Wednesday to hold another meeting Sept. 2 on the topic after a request came from parents concerned about the potential impact pellet dust would have on the health of Lavington Elementary students. “We want parents to have an opportunity to provide their views. We need to listen to them,” said trustee John Armstrong. However, Armstrong admits the district’s role is limited as the final decision about the plant will be made by the Ministry of Environment. “We don’t have any influence over the process but we can get educated and express our concerns to other jurisdictions,” he said. The Sept. 2 meeting will be at 4 p.m. at the school board office. “Comments will be restricted to safety,” said Bill Turanski, board chairperson. “We have no jurisdiction over whether the District of Coldstream did the right thing or not (with rezoning the property).” On Wednesday, trustees received a presentation from Pinnacle Renewable Energy, which is proposing the pellet plant in conjunction with Tolko Industries. “We don’t see that there’s a lot of risk here,” said Leroy Reitsma, Pinnacle president. Pinnacle says the nearest emission point would be 356 metres from the school, with the average distance of emission being 410 metres. “The proposed emissions are below standards and it’s proven technology,” said Reitsma. Parents in the audience demanded there be a second board meeting so they could speak directly to trustees. “It’s children at the school with a sawmill next door and that requires balance,” said one parent Wednesday. However, Reitsma pointed out that the official input process for the proposal is over and his company is proceeding with its application to the Ministry of Environment, which will review all information before making a decision. “Boards, including yours, are being asked to step in as experts and make opinions and that’s not appropriate,” he told trustees.

Teachers Strike Vote Result

Written by Glen Morrison 107.5 KISSFM Wednesday, 11 June 2014 04:15
B.C. teachers have voted 86 percent in favour of a full scale walkout. BCTF president Jim Iker says it sends a very strong message to Christy Clark and the government it's time to negotiate in good faith, put new funding on the table, and reach a fair deal that also provides better support for students. He says while they are ready to withdraw services that decision hasn't been made and the rotating strikes continue. Vernon is being hit today, North Okanagan Shuswap and Central Okanagan tomorrow. Education minister Peter Fassbender says the result wasn't unexpected, and the teachers need to come to the table with realistic expectations. The earliest a walkout could happen is monday and Fassbender says it took 5 days of bargaining to get the support staff agreement, and that can happen with the teachers as well.

153 Teachers Get Layoff Notices

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Friday, 23 May 2014 15:00
Dozens of teachers in the Vernon District are getting layoff notices this week. Vernon School District superintendent Joe Rogers says the number is 153. "But the majority will get some work next year, maybe not all that they are owed, but because we are up in enrolment next year, depending on how many retire versus how many return from leave, the majority will get some work next year," Rogers tells Kiss FM. Rogers says the projections are for 70 more students in classes this fall. "If that projection is true, we should be up three or four teachers over what we have this year," Rogers adds. Rogers says a layoff recall meeting will be held next week where the impacted teachers will find out about the jobs that are open. Rogers say teachers need to work one semester or five months in the Vernon District to get recall rights, where in Kelowna they have to work 15 months. "So if you work one semester, you are owned some work and that's why the list is so long. Somebody may work one day a week, and then we owe them one day a week if they've done that for the whole year. We have a different collective agreement," says Rogers. Vernon Teachers Association president Heather Malcolm estimates the number at about 200 teachers getting notices. "Last year a majority of the teachers got recalled to a partial position or a full position, I don't know how many are going to get called back this year, " says Malcolm. Malcolm says regardless of the outcome, it's a lot of teachers whose lives have been disrupted for a period of time.

Budget axe swings at Vernon School District

by Staff Writer - Vernon Morning Star posted May 1, 2014 at 7:00 AM

Staff will be handed layoff notices at the Vernon School District. To deal with a $1.4 million shortfall in 2014/15, trustees announced Wednesday that expenditures have to be reduced due to increased costs."These cost reductions will result in some reallocation of staff. For some staff members, it will translate into reduced hours of work while for others it will result in layoffs," said Bill Turanski, board chairperson."We are currently proceeding with this staff restructuring process. It is hoped that with continued future enrolment growth and the Minister of Education’s commitment to examine the funding formula, the district will not need to make future cuts."

The following expenditure reductions are being proposed by the board:
District office expenditures - $133,667
Reduction in transportation routes - $125,000
Reduction in maintenance expenditures - $84,306
Reduction in library staffing - $96,987
Reduction in school clerical staffing - $61,475
Reduction in school vice-principal staffing - $64,500
Reduction in school supply budgets - $64,155
Restructuring special education support staff - $342,117
Reallocation of anticipated year end surplus - $517,279

Turanski says the shortfall is due to the following cost pressures not funded by the Ministry of Education:
Increased Medical Services Plan costs
Increased municipal pension costs
Increased Workers’ Compensation rates
Increased B.C. Hydro rates
Increased CUPE wage costs
Increased teacher and CUPE benefits costs
Inflationary costs for supplies

West Vernon School Sold For $1.4M

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Friday, 24 January 2014 05:50
The amount paid for the former West Vernon Elementary school has been released. "The sale price was $1,474,500, less the legal fees," says Vernon School Board chair Bil Turanski. Turanski says the building was bought by the North Okanagan Child Care Society.He says the funds will be likely be used for upgrading the school district offices on 15th Street. "The Ministry (of Education) has agreed it can be used for that," says Turanski. Turanski says the buildings at that site could certainly use an upgrade. "I've been a trustee for over 20 years and they've been there during that period, and they were old portable classrooms, so they're pretty old, 30 years at least." He says plans for the upgrade are being drawn up. "We're hoping to do it as quickly as possible."

Vernon parents push for charter buses during snowy months - Parents say school buses are unfit and unsafe in the snowy mountain passes

CBC News Posted: Nov 20, 2013 6:11 AM PT

A battle over buses is pitting parents against school administrators in Vernon on Wednesday. Parents of players on the Vernon Secondary School’s football team want to charter a bus to take them over the snowy Coquihalla Highway to the Lower Mainland to play a game in Burnaby. Sherri Black says the trip is too dangerous for a school bus. “School buses may be safe in town-long trips. But on the Coquihalla, through the summit—I don’t think the school bus is equipped. Not safe, not safe at all,” says Black. “It’s our money and we should have a say how we get there.” Vernon school district superintendent Joe Rogers says the high school must send the team on a regular school bus due to a contract agreement with the drivers’ union, but insists the school buses are safe. “The school bus is the safest mode of travel—the Transportation Safety Board would tell you it’s the safest mode of travel,” Rogers told CBC News. Rogers says parents can take their children in their own vehicles. Sherri Black says that's an option she and other parents are considering, but they will continue to push for the right to pay for a charter bus in the future.

'Huge loss' for people with special needs

by Melissa Ligertwood - Vernon Correspondent - CASTANET  Jul 14, 2013 / 8:27 am
More than 50 years of history may be coming to an abrupt end for the Vernon District Association for Community Living (VDACL).  Executive Director Eileen Howells says the group had been in negotiations with School District 22 for the past five years about plans to purchase the Dorothy Alexander Centre, located at the site of the old West Vernon elementary school. That is, up until one month ago when Howells says she learned the school district had decided not only to keep the building, but to evict the VDACL. “We were given notice that they are going to keep the building for school district programs. We now have three months to vacate,” said Howells. The VDACL, now more commonly known as Venture Training, started in 1955 in response to a need for special education programs. In 1961, the VDACL finalized two-thirds funding from the Ministry of Education to build a special education school called 'My School'. The school board of the time donated the land, and the VDACL worked with the community to fundraise the rest of the money needed to build what is now Dorothy Alexander Centre. In 1970, community members marched beside VDACL to fundraise for the construction of a gymnasium. Today, Venture Training serves over 200 adults with special needs through 13 programs at five different sites throughout Vernon, including residential properties. The school district has always retained ownership of Dorothy Alexander Centre, offering a low lease rate and first right of refusal should the buildings ever be put up for sale. Howells says that almost six years ago, the school district announced plans to sell when they decided to close West Vernon school. “That very day, we said we wanted to buy and we’ve been in negotiations ever since. In May of 2010, there was even a publicity event to announce approval from the Ministry of Education,” she said. “We made an offer and they accepted. We thought we had a deal.” The school district has stated they shifted gears two years ago, informing the VDACL that the buildings would not be sold and the lease would not be renewed. Howells says the decision whether to fight is ultimately up to the VDACL Board, but she’s been instructed to move forward with plan B – finding a new location. Although staying at the Dorothy Alexander Centre would provide the best opportunity to continue and expand current programming, she says, the VDACL needs to move forward. “I need to find a permanent home for my programs. It’s unfortunate because there is a great attachment to the building, but I don’t know what else we can do,” said Howells. Dorothy Alexander herself, the previous community educator for whom the building is named, continues to work and live in Vernon. Alexander is saddened by the news that the longstanding agreement between VDACL and the school board may be coming to an end. “This is a huge loss to the people of Vernon with special needs. It’s a vital part of who they are, that’s why they were trying to acquire the building in the first place,” said Alexander. She hopes that it’s not too late to reach a compromise. “Something should be worked out for the continued use of the gym and kitchen for people with special needs,” she said.

Venture scrambling for site

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: July 12, 2013 1:00 AM A group that supports the developmentally disabled is scrambling after a land deal collapsed. The Vernon and District Association for Community Living has learned the Vernon School District will no longer sell the Dorothy Alexander Centre, which is part of the West Vernon school site. “It really was a surprise,” said Eileen Howells, VDACL executive director. “We thought we had an agreement and out of the blue it’s all gone.” VDACL and the school district reached an agreement in 2009 over the 8,500-square-foot building and the Ministry of Education approved selling the property to VDACL in 2010. School district officials, however, insist they have been open with VDACL about needing the Dorothy Alexander Centre for the alternate learning program, which assists teens and adults. “We have told them for the last couple of years that we needed space and we weren’t going to renew their lease,” said Bev Rundell, superintendent. VDACL, also known as Venture Training, has leased the building since 1961 and once purchased, the plan was to expand the programs available. “It made sense because of the programs we have in close vicinity there,” said Howells, adding that the focus was going to be on fitness and theatre. “Our goal is all about inclusion in the community. We wanted an art studio there so we could bring people in so our clients could have opportunities.” VDACL has three months to move existing programs out of the centre. “We need to do plan B but we’re not sure what buildings in the community are out there,” said Howells. Rundell says the district considered other options for alternate learning but the Dorothy Alexander Centre made the most sense. “To build a space or find a space to lease, we don’t have the financial resources to do that,” she said. “We have to do what is best for our students.” Eric Foster, Vernon-Monashee MLA, had helped convince the Ministry of Education to approve the purchase to VDACL. He was unaware of the district’s decision until he was contacted by The Morning Star. “My understanding was the process (purchase) was moving along. This is new to me,” he said, adding that he will pursue further information from the school district.