Dear Editor:
With regards to the opinion expressed by Elizabeth James in her March 13 column, Cannibalizing Yourself Lacks Foresight, we offer the following important clarification.
The North Vancouver Board of Education is actively pursuing solutions to best utilize its land resources for the benefit of students and the greater community. The board is not seeking to sell land in order to balance its budget. Even during recent years of fiscal restraint, the board has successfully presented balanced budgets to the ministry, and expects to do so again in June. Our school district's budgets are balanced based on sound fiscal management, not land sales or leases.
However, opportunities provided through long-term sales or leases can provide vital funding for programs, services and facilities upgrades that are not supported through government funding.
Since the spring of 2012, the North Vancouver Board of Education has actively involved the community in a series of discussions and input opportunities related to lands and facilities no longer needed as public schools. Nothing proceeds in isolation, or without extensive review and community input. Moreover, we maintain ongoing discussions, and information sharing, with both municipalities, to assist in planning for the future of our community, and its public schools.
Community members are welcome to review the extensive information available at: blog44.ca/ landmanagement/ to learn more.
Franci Stratton, chairwoman, North Vancouver Board of Education
