There was no shortage of emotion Tuesday night during the school board's special meeting where they voted to close four District 69 schools. Those who wanted to keep Qualicum Beach Elementary School open seemed to make up about half of the 200 people jammed into the forum at the Parksville Civic and Technology Centre. In the end, the school board, faced with a huge deficit and the fact the district has 6,000 spaces for its 4,000 students, voted to close four elementary schools.
Slated for closure this fall are Parksville Elementary, Qualicum Beach Elementary and French Creek Community School in Coombs. Students from Winchelsea Elementary will be moved to other schools as well — Winchelsea will now be the home of the Pass/Woodwinds alternative school and some district resource staff.
See full coverage in Thursday's edition of The Parksville Qualicum Beach News.