At the July 9 2018 Regular Council meeting, Ravi Parmar (Chair) and Jim Cambridge (District Superintendent) of the School District 62 (Sooke) presented their Long Range Facility and Capital Plan.

Bottom line: while other schools in BC are shutting down schools, Sooke is the fastest growing school district in the province. This growth is expected to be sustained over the next 20 years, which allows for longer term planning.

Driving the enrolment are the 1,700 new housing units coming to Sooke in the next few years. The conversation about school capacity hitting its maximum is no longer if but when, and they are bracing for faster growth in the secondary schools.

The School District is looking at adding 4,400 seats in the next 10 years throughout the school district, with 560 of those in Sooke. Specific to Sooke, they are looking at expanding Journey by 125 seats and Edward Milne Community School (EMCS) by 100 seats over the next five to 10 years. More land may be required for the EMCS expansion.

The School District 62 (Sooke) also wants to build a new 396-space temporarily coined Sooke River Elementary school on site already acquired at the Sunriver Estates. Should such a school be built, it could absorb the elementary students from Saseenos. This new elementary school is their highest short-term priority for Sooke. On a lower priority is replacing Sooke Elementary (currently at 116% capacity) with a larger school, and renovating—and possibly expanding—John Muir Elementary.

Adjusted growth charts for EMCS and Sooke Elementary, from the Powerpoint presentation from the School District to Sooke Council.

As is legally required, there would be public consultation before any school is closed.

If they started planning a new building for a school now, it would be ready in four to five years from now. Sooke would not be on the hook for funding it. Once the projects are approved, the School District would provide the planning, and the province would fund it.

Sooke Mayor Maja Tait assured the School District that Council would follow up with the Premier and MLAs as required.

Recent Capital Improvements in Sooke

EMCS

• Full roof replacement
• Boiler replacement
• Outside social area enhancements (back and front of school)
• Dust Collector

Journey

• Boiler replacement Sewer connection
• New access road to the adjacent subdivision
• Building envelope

Sooke Elementary

• Boiler replacement
• Drainage upgrade
• Sewer connection

Poirier

• Boiler replacement
• Full roof replacement
• Drainage and back field sidewalk upgrade

John Muir

• Painting of the school
• Community garden

Attendance: Mayor Maja Tait and Councillors Ebony Logins, Kevin Pearson, Brenda Parkinson, Rick Kasper, Kerrie Reay, Bev Berger.

Also discussed at the July 9 Council meeting

• SD62 plans to add 560 seats for students in Sooke schools over the next 10 years
• Presentation prompts council to request draft bylaw banning single use plastic bags
• CRD Parks hear an earful from Sooke on leashed dog policy
• Delegation to Council details expanded RCMP Musical Ride tickets sales, unveils preshow, announces free concert
• Members of Affordable Housing Committee appointed