WELCOMEto the

WEBINAR on Strategies to Promote Rural School Sustainability

1:30-3:00pm PST, January 6, 2011Brought to you by:

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Presenters

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Claire AvisonExecutive Director of Cross-Sector Strategic Initiatives BranchMinistry of Education

Ken CampbellSecretary-TreasurerSchool District No 50 (Haida Gwaii)

Gary ChampagneChief Administrative OfficerDistrict of Wells

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Webinar Agenda

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Introductions (5 min)

Presentations (30 min)

Questions & Discussion (40 min)

Closure (5 min)

Neighbourhood Learning Centres

Sustainable Schools, Services and Communities

January 6, 2011

Vision

All schools in BC are Neighbourhood Learning Centres, invitingplaces where people of all ages can access education, healthservices, recreation and culture seven days a week, twelvemonths a year – places that promote the well-being of children,families and the entire community.

Apr 2005 – School Community Connections grants launched

Sep 2008 – NLC capital projects funded

Sep 2009 – NLC initiative expanded beyond capital projects

Feb 2010 – 7 days a week facilities management announced

Mar 2010 – Goal for NLC hours of operation set: 7:30 am to 7:30 pm

Government Direction

NLCs are developed through capital projects for new facilities, but also through careful evaluation of existing facilities and resources. Both paths feature:

• Extended hours• Community consultation• Policy that supports families and community use

From School to Neighbourhood Learning Centre

Fall-09 Letter to all Deputy Ministers

Jan-10 Education Stakeholders Forum

Apr-10 Presentation to Government Non-Profit Initiative Leadership Council

May-10 Presentation to BC Association of School Business Officials

Jun-10 Education Advisory Committee Presentation

Sep-10 Union of BC Municipalities Workshop

Nov-10 Education Partners Committee Consultations

Engagement efforts continue. We aim to reach all sectors.

Consultation and Engagement Efforts

Collective agreement and liability issues

School culture

Leasing and rental costs

Other policy direction

Workloads

Funding...

Concerns

Funding

School Community Connections grants have been awarded to successful 2010 applicants.

Information on a variety of local government and regional grant sources are available through CivicInfo BC. See www.civicinfo.bc.ca

The Aviva Community Fund, Royal Bank Foundation and Pepsi Refresh Project currently offer community development grants.

Funding through partnerships and creativity continues to support local NLC development.

Communication

Cross-sector relationships

Funding

Policy

Tools and resources

Strategies to Meet Challenges

NLC inventory of activity and available space

Business case development

Sharing NLC success stories

Community of Practice

Engagement

• Education sector• Other ministries• Local governments• Business and NGOs

Moving Ahead

Government is pursuing its vision for Neighbourhood Learning Centres in BC. All schools can be NLCs and further strengthen the communities they serve.

Consultation and engagement with all sectors is ongoing. New sources of funding continue to be examined.

Tools are being developed to assist communities in NLC development and early successes are being celebrated.

For more, please visit:

www.neighbourhoodlearningcentres.gov.bc.ca

In Summary

Port Clements Multiplex Project

Port Clements

• Village in the middle of Graham Island on Masset inlet

• Population approximately 300 – 500

• Main industry is logging

Background

• 1998: Port Clements Village Council passed a motion to investigate a Community Multiplex facility

• 2000: Society formed to develop a conceptual layout, survey the community, apply for funding, and co-ordinate the construction of a facility

• Raised funding of over $3 million

• RFP developed; 3 proposals received

• Rising costs had driven the costs beyond the funding raised

School Involvement

• Concern about maintaining an elementary school in Port Clements

• Enrollment had declined to 40 students, housed in a school built in the late 1960’s for 150 students

• The School District met with Port Clements Council to explore the viability of including an elementary school component to the building

• The Ministry of Education was also included and was willing to support the concept

• The Minister of Education had been approached and was supportive as well

Challenges When Sharing a Building

• Who would own the building?• Where would it be located?• How would the building be insured?• Once completed who would maintain the building or

cut the grass? How would the building be cleaned?• How would future major renovations be handled?• What effect would existing union contracts have on

the shared building?• What effect could third parties (organizations

leasing space like VIRL) have on the shared building?• How would the shared school & public library work?

Challenges When Sharing a Building

• Has everyone involved been consulted and brought up-to-date on progress?

• Are all Provincial funding and parent organizations in support?

• How would student safety be protected in a shared public building?

• Who would make decisions about extras during the construction phase?

• How would cost overruns be handled?• Who would sign the contracts with consultants and

engineers?

Total: $4,228,000

Gwaii Trust$1,000,000

Ministry of Education$900,000

Provincial Infrastructure

Grant $1,676,000

School Community Connections Grant

$200,000

SD 50$200,000

Community Funds$312,000

Building Committee

• Mayor

• 2 Village Councilors

• Community Member (member of the Multiplex Society)

• Village Administrator

• School Principal

• Teacher

• Support Staff Member

• DPAC Representative

• Trustee

• Secretary-Treasurer

Multiplex includesSCHOOL• 3 classrooms• School

administration• School washrooms

MUNICIPAL• Municipal

administration offices• Council chambers

COMMUNITY (shared)

• School & public library

• Seniors center

• Daycare

• Commercial kitchen

• Shared staff room

Construction• Combination of local labour and tendered

services from contractors off island• Local materials used where possible• Municipality & School District provided

assistance, expertise and in-kind donations• Initial construction completed Dec 31, 2008• School & Municipal office moved on Jan 1, 2009• Building officially opened April 1, 2009

Benefits to the Community

• Replacement of outdated municipal facilities

• Replacement of old school facility

• Permanent daycare space for youth and preschool

• Permanent room for seniors in the community

• Reduced fuel & utilities cost for School District & Village

• Sharing of space: library, daycare, gymnasium, staff room

• Expanded use to partnering agencies

Keys to Success• Growing need in the community (both Village and

School)

• A fear that if nothing is done it will be done to you

• Absolute willingness to work together for the benefit of the community

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Keys to Success

• Ability to view your institutions (sacred cows) in a new way

• Support of the elected officials from the Village, the Ministry of Education and the Board of Education

• Ability of all involved with the project to say “yes we can and will” in light of opposition to the contrary

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Wells-Barkerville Community School

Saving our School – Saving our Community

The Basic Agreement

• Wells purchases the School building and property for $1.00.

• SD 28 agrees to pay Wells $5000 per year under a 10-year leasing agreement for classroom space.

• SD 28 agrees to continue providing an elementary school program in Wells.

The Escape Clauses

• If enrolment falls below 9 students, SD 28 may terminate or renegotiate the lease.

• If unmanageable capital costs arise Wells may terminate the lease.

• Either party with one year’s notice may terminate the lease.

Other Uses Clause

• The District of Wells can lease space to third parties or utilize space for its own purposes.

• Leases or uses cannot present a hazard to students.

Operating and Maintenance Costs

• The District of Wells shall be responsible for building and property operating, maintenance and capital costs.

• SD 28 shall be responsible for all costs related to their educational program.

Balance Sheet

2010 Cost: $30,000

2010 Revenue: $11,500

2010 Balance:($18,500)

10.7% of Tax Revenue

2011 Cost: $22,000

2011Revenue: $11,500

2011 Balance:($10,500)

6.0% of Tax Revenue

The Wells Barkerville School is the greatest place on Earth. We have a special class because we are all friends.

Everyone in the community knows us and we have no bullies. We all make each other laugh and do things that other schools don’t get to do.

Mostly our school is the best because we have choices with what to study and how we learn. We work together in groups to mentor and teach each other.

We would invite everyone to come to our school, meet us and see what we are doing.

- Children of the Wells-Barkerville School

•How often do your community schools and local government interact?

•How often have your community schools and local government consulted with each other regarding community use of space?

Thank you

Resources

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RuralBChttp://www.ruralbc.gov.bc.ca/

Neighbourhood Learning Centreshttp://www.neighbourhoodlearningcentres.gov.bc.ca/

School Community Connectionshttp://www.schoolconnections.ca/

School District 50 – Haida Gwaiihttp://www.sd50.bc.ca/

District of Wellshttp://www.district.wells.bc.ca/

Contacts

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Claire AvisonE-mail: Claire.Avison@gov.bc.caPh: 250-356-6760

Ken CampbellE-mail: kcampbell@sd50.bc.caPh: 250-559-8471 Ext 7

Gary ChampagneE-mail: administrator@district.wells.bc.caPh: 250-994-3330