Cowichan parents battle to keep schools open; Trustees grappling with budget deficit to make final decision in early April
Times Colonist (Victoria)
February 9, 2008
By: Jeff Bell

An "all-for-one" attitude has emerged in the Cowichan Valley school district, where supporters of four elementary schools are battling to keep their facilities open.

Somenos, Mill Bay, Koksilah and Tansor elementaries are all being considered for closure as the district wrestles with a projected budget deficit of $2.1 million and steadily dropping student numbers.

For Hannah Seymour, who has two boys at Koksilah and heads the school's Parent Advisory Council, the co-operative atmosphere among the affected school communities is heartening….

Michelle Martin, a Tansor parent, said each of the schools involved has something special to offer. She said Tansor had $1.7 million in upgrades just last year and prides itself on its early-childhood education and community-daycare programs….