Parents to urge schools be kept open
Vancouver Sun - Canwest News Service
May 20, 2008

COWICHAN VALLEY - Parents from the Cowichan Valley intent on keeping their children's schools from closing and maintaining childcare spaces are scheduled to be back at the legislature today to state their case.

In late February, a similar group had a meeting with Education Minister Shirley Bond. Today, parents have arranged a meeting with Linda Reid, minister of state for childcare, to discuss the impact they say school closures could have on the availability of childcare.

The parents say that close to 240 children in early-childhood learning programs and before- and after-school care could be affected by the possibility of school closures in the Cowichan Valley School District.

"We have functioning, excellent childcare in our school, and we would like to continue to go there," said Lee Ann Williams, whose son is in a childcare program at Ecole Mill Bay, one of four district sites being considered for closure after the current academic year.

Williams said she and other parents will suggest cooperation among government ministries to ensure that childcare is supported in school settings.