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Page 4 of 9
The solution seems obvious: Put Spring Creek School on hold for now, at least until:
1. the population base (from Creekside south) is there to justify it and,
2. the money is there to pay for it.
Don't penalize every student in the district by further compromising their already heavily compromised education by 20 days. And don't force Whistler children to attend a school that is so far beyond the existing school it's ridiculous! (I'm quite certain that if any member of the school board were actually affected by this outrageous catchment decision, it never would have been made in the first place.)
One other option, and I suggested this at your board meeting of March 2002, is to open Spring Creek school in phases. The school is still in the construction phase, shooting (optimistically) for an Oct. 15 opening. Complete and open only that part of the school which can accommodate those within reasonable proximity (i.e.: from Creekside south), and divert the balance of the student funding back to Myrtle Philip, keeping some of the portables until such time as the numbers balance sufficiently on their own. I realize this is not the basis on which the new school got the green light, but the board has a serious problem on its hands, and maybe it's time to go back to the bargaining table, acknowledge it, and come up with some reasonable alternatives.
I also understand that Intrawest was keen enough to have a school in Spring Creek that they provided the land at no charge (thus the location, which currently serves a minority of Whistler families). Certainly the prospect of a new neighbourhood school enhances real estate sales and values in their Spring Creek development. But the entire school district is in dire financial straits, in no small part as a result of this expensive new school. Maybe Intrawest would consider reaching a little deeper into its well-lined pockets and coming up with some additional funding, so that our kids' education can remain intact, and students can attend their real "neighbourhood school."
Shelley Phelan
Whistler
Re: Whistler Property Taxes Applied to Permanent Resident Home Owners
I was very pleased to read the progress made by Gary Watson and his associates in getting us additional Home Owner Grants and the small reduction to the school tax component. While this is a step towards fairness in tax policy in the Sea to Sky corridor, on a more pragmatic basis there are more steps we can take to ease the tax-load on permanent resident homeowners.
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May 24, 2013, 2:05 PM
Task force formed to address long weekend mayhem
Locals frustrated by damage to village; police log 17 cases of mischief over one night More...
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May 24, 2013, 2:00 PM
Crud 2 Mud kicks off Bike Park event season
Course to be announced at mandatory athlete meeting Sat. 6 p.m. at the GLC More...
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May 24, 2013, 2:00 PM
Tourism Whistler holds board of director elections
Eight candidates were nominated for three positions on the Board More...
Latest in Whistler
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Task force formed to address long weekend mayhem
Locals frustrated by damage to village; police log 17 cases of mischief over one night
- May 24, 2013
-
Crud 2 Mud kicks off Bike Park event season
Course to be announced at mandatory athlete meeting Sat. 6 p.m. at the GLC
- May 24, 2013
-
Tourism Whistler holds board of director elections
Eight candidates were nominated for three positions on the Board
- May 24, 2013
- More »
