From: Bill.Bard@sd68.bc.

ca Date: Wed, Sep 25, 2013 at 1:09 AM Subject: A Letter from a Concerned Mother - Anne Cateaux To: ACateaux@ecova.com, jbrennan@sd68.bc.ca, dallen@sd68.bc.ca, Nancy.Curley@sd68.bc.ca, Bill.Robinson@sd68.bc.ca, Kim.Howland@sd68.bc.ca, TerryLynn.Saunders@sd68.bc.ca, DNeary@sd68.bc.ca, SWelch@sd68.bc.ca, david.hutchinson@sd68.bc.ca, JBlain@sd68.bc.ca, PTurin@sd68.bc.ca, educ.minister@gov.bc.ca Cc: savecedarschools@gmail.com, alecmcpherson2011@gmail.com, doug.routley@bcndp.ca, Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences with me. I am pleased to hear why you were drawn to the west coast, and the Island in particular. I too moved a family here in 1990 knowing no-one, leaving behind everyone we knew. I couldn't agree more that a tremendous amount of courage was required. Change takes courage. You have stated that "the Board has decided to close our schools. But what is truly disturbing and tragic is the fact that the Trustees did nothing to stop this injustice..." Ms. Cateaux, the 9 individual Trustees are what makes up the Board, they are one and the same. The Trustees were the group that had the courage to make much needed changes, for the betterment of the entire district. Just as you and I moved our families for their own best outcomes. NOT easy, and NOT done without courage or the careful consideration that would "jeopardize the future of our childrens education through our lack of research, commitment and miss placed pride" or without "a level of compassion that extends beyond a mere job", or because it will be magical. Not without a good conscience, does the welfare of your, or my children, not play into our daily thought processes. I would not insult you or any parent with those accusations, no-one should! No Trustee should, and this Trustee has not. Much of the logic behind the decisions that have been made and are now being carried forward, came from information gathered from public consultations during our strategic planning process (I believe this info are available on the District website), during which time everyone was told about the ongoing declining enrolment all over the Province (with a very few exceptions) and the age and conditions of our facilities. Something had to be done, and we wanted to know what everyone's thoughts were about the highest priorities. My understanding of 21st Century learning is clearly very different from your own. I embrace it and strongly believe that when the new Elementary school is completed many people will be surprised to see the terrific benefits of the way our children can learn as opposed to the previous Century focusing on how we teach.

As for your requests, I offer the following: - Statistical information regarding traffic accidents and fatalities along the three major routes our children will be bussed starting next year. I would like to know these averages as compared to the routes Cedar children have been taking for the past ten years. I trust you did your homework and this information should be readily available These statistics are likely available through the RDN and department of Highways, as well as the Cities of Ladysmith and Nanaimo. I suggest you contact the governing bodies directly responsible for these numbers, I suggest you give them dates if you want averages. To my knowledge, there have been no fatalities involving our buses. - I would like to understand how the capital investment budget was derived at and who will be funding these CAP X expenditures Please check the SD68 website, or contact our finance department. - I would like to have disclosed the forecasted operational budgets including the variance from all possible scenarios. When we know exactly how many hard numbers there are for all possible scenarios, we will surely provide those. Increasing the staffing numbers to ensure forecasted budgets for unknown possibilities would be an irresponsible expenditure, even if the need to find 4.8 Million dollars in savings was needed in this last years budget. Lastly, I would like to have a copy of the letter that I submitted back in early June during the consultation period. My comments were submitted on a green form that was sent home from school. My understanding is a 8 inch binder exists. If true and our letters were read and documented, then it should be no problem to locate. I signed it. You have copied this to District staff, I'm sure this information may be available to you as well, barring privacy issues. You work for the public. The cost of education is not measured by dollars alone. Canadians believe in the value of education. It is not a mere privilege, it is our childrens right. I support changes that mean the Board can be judiciously and fiscally responsible with tax payers dollars. I do not support Boards and Trustees who have hidden agendas and who knowing mean to do harm to a community. I couldn't agree more!

Bill Bard Trustee; SOGI Chair