Abbreviated Chronology of Wells School Issue - Fall 2002-February 2003
June 14, 2002: Mayor David Hendrixson writes SD28 Chair Louise Scott to propose to SD28 that the ownership of the school be transferred to DOW. The entire proposal includes cost sharing, and the establishment of minimum enrollment levels with the DOW exercising the option to pay the difference if enrollment falls below a certain level.
August 21, 2002: DOW offer declined by Chair Scott.
September 17, 2002: classes begin at Wells Community Hall.(2 weeks late)
October 7, 2002: SD28 invites District of Wells (DOW) to lease school for annual fee of $1.
October 15, 2002: DOW passes motion:
"THAT the best use for the Wells/Barkerville Elementary School is
as a public school and that given the impending election any discussions
around the disposal of the school building would be pre-mature at this
time.
AND THAT should the School District wish to lease the building to Island
Mountain Arts during the summer months, then Council would support this."
October 16, 2002: DOW sends letter and copy of above motion to SD28.
November 6, 2002: Bill Horne attends SD28 meeting to ask for a lease agreement with Island Mountain Arts (IMA); arrives to find that a decision had already been made at earlier in-camera meeting to examine this after the election.
November 16, 2002: election results in changes on SD28 Board and Wells Council.
November 27, 2002: Bill Horne (IMA) and Gary Champagne (DOW) meet with Tim Klotz and Ed Napier to discuss possible lease agreement between IMA and SD28 for summer 2003.
December 5, 2002: Tim Klotz informs IMA that SD28 has agreed in principle to such a lease.
December 18, 2002: Will Lepine (PAC) shows video of Wells school building and temporary classroom at Hall; requests motion to move children back to school. Tim Klotz tells Will that a motion can't be considered because they are in negotiations with Wells and I.M.A.
December 20, 2002: DOW informs SD28 that it does not wish to become involved in the ownership or in a lease agreement in regard to this building, and that it did not perceive that they were involved in any negotiations with SD28 in regard to the Wells-Barkerville School building.
January 6, 2003: IMA writes to thank SD28 for agreeing in principle to lease the school building in summer 2003, and to clarify that this arrangement outside the school year should have no bearing whatsoever on SD28's ability to move the children back to the school.
February 11, 2002: Trustees and Admin meet with selection of stakeholders in Wells; figures presented that indicate that in the short term, moving children back to a restricted portion of the school building could be accomplished for little or no expenditures; agreement that a business plan would assist the development of a longer term solution.
