Consulting the public about school facilities planning options through an online survey and during the summer isn’t a good approach, Nanaimo trustees heard this week.

Nine people spoke to trustees as part of the consultation process on the services and values community members believe important in future facilities planning.

The speakers took issue with an online survey being used to collect public feedback, the idea of adding middle schools and the timing of the consultations – during summer holidays.

“I felt compelled to address you this evening because I’m very concerned about the current facilities renewal process and the survey method,” said Lynne MacFadgen, a member of the Woodlands Vision Committee and an active participant in last year’s consultation process.

She said her biggest concern is that after voting down the previous plan, approved in the spring of 2008 after an extensive public consultation, trustees still do not have a new plan to deal with the district’s many aging facilities.

MacFadgen questioned how survey responses would be tallied and used, whether respondents know why some questions are being asked and if the questions are free of bias.

TerryLynn Saunders, a former school trustee, said many of the questions in the survey have already been answered in reports and studies the district has commissioned and the public is being asked to give feedback on possibilities that may not ever be approved for funding.

“My only comment is, ‘where is the money?’” she said. “It appears that this board has not only lost the cart, but the horse has run away.”

Gunnar Myhrer, a Woodlands teacher and parent, said he’s worried the planning process will not result in money from the province for new or renovated schools.

Parent Moufida Holubeshen asked the school board to consider all the stakeholders before making decisions. She said when the previous board decided to close NDSS last year, the French immersion community was overlooked.

“We are all on the same side and we all want what is best for students,” she said.

Woodlands graduate Katie Durvin urged trustees not to consider the middle school or junior secondary models mentioned in the online survey, as senior students are important role models for younger students.

Donna Allen, school board chairwoman, said she’s glad to see community members come forward with their thoughts.

“This is an opening conversation for thoughtful discussion about what this community needs,” she said. “I think if you’re going to look at a long-range plan, you really have to have this kind of a conversation.”

Allen said some people have told her having the meeting in the summer is more convenient because people are less busy. She said the survey questions are issues that have come up repeatedly.

The district’s previous facilities renewal plan, which included closure of two secondary schools, building a new secondary school and seismic upgrades at a third secondary school, was voted down by trustees in January.

The district has received about 200 online and written responses to the survey questions.

For more information or to view the survey, please go to www.sd68.bc.ca.

reporter@nanaimobulletin.com