Regina’s school closure model has spread to B.C., where parents are now fighting desperately to keep schools in their communities. Former Regina superintendent Dave Hutchinson, hired by the Nanaimo Ladysmith school board, has introduced a 10-year plan that is remarkably similar to Regina’s 10 Year Renewal Plan.

Nanaimo’s 10 Year Facility Plan calls for closing and consolidating 10 schools into four buildings. In June, the first closures were ordered, including 3 elementary schools and one recently-constructed highschool in the town of Cedar. Affected residents and the Chief of Snuneymuxw First Nation have complained about poor consultation processes, including consultation meetings that have no impact whatsoever on pre-ordained plans.

Similar to Regina, Nanaimo Ladysmith parents report they have been presented with slide shows on 21^st Century Education as theorized by U.S. school designer Prakesh Nair. As we’ve seen in Regina, the slide presentation endeavours to convince community members that their current schools are deficient and can only be improved by building completely new open concept designs promoted by Fielding and Nair.

News report – Plan details

 News report – Community reaction

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