Summary
- Several elementary schools in the north end of Nanaimo are currently full or over-capacity.
- Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools has an empty elementary school (Rutherford Elementary) which can be reopened to reduce over-capacity in north end schools.
- To ensure enough students are enrolled at Rutherford for a vibrant school community and to reduce over-capacity enrolment at neighbouring schools, there are proposed changes to catchment boundaries.
- In addition to reducing over-capacity in schools, the proposed catchment boundary changes are expected to significantly reduce the number of portable classrooms in use at schools over time in the north end of the district, resulting in most students being taught in classrooms within school buildings.
- There are no changes to catchment boundaries for September 2024.
- A survey will be emailed to families at schools with proposed catchment boundary changes on June 7, 2024.
What is changing?
On May 15, 2024 Nanaimo Ladysmith Public School’s Board of Education approved a recommendation to reopen Rutherford Elementary to help address crowding at north end schools and begin consultation with our community. Read the report.
The proposed date to reopen Rutherford Elementary is September 2025.
Reopening a new school requires adding a new catchment for the school. As a result, new catchment boundaries are proposed for north end schools for September 2025.
What schools will have new catchment boundaries?
It is proposed that catchment boundaries for Rutherford, McGirr, Randerson, Frank J Ney, Departure Bay be revised and there be very minor catchment boundary changes for Uplands, Cilaire and Rock City for September 2025.
In September 2025, students in the Rutherfod, McGirr, Randerson, Frank J Ney and Departure Bay catchment areas will be required to attend their catchment area school. The exceptions will be:
- Students in Grade 7 in September 2025 and their siblings. Siblings may stay at their current school for the 2025-2026 school year provided they move to their new catchment school the following year.
- Current out of catchment students who have already been enrolled in a school through the district’s out of catchment request process.
- Students whose catchment boundary school changes to Uplands, Cilaire or Rock City in September 2025 can remain at their current school and do not have to move to Uplands, Cilaire or Rock City.
Students at Uplands, Cilaire and Rock City will be able to stay at their current school in September 2025 if their catchment boundary changes.
Support for students changing schools
The district is focused on ensuring a smooth and welcoming transition for all families moving to new school communities. Our goal is for every student to feel welcome and have the opportunity to thrive in their learning environment. All supports received and available at each child’s current school will be available to them at their new school.
Prior to September 2025, there will be many opportunities for children to become familiar with their new school community. This includes school tours, fun days for new students to meet and socialize with each other and the existing school community as well as social and emotional supports.
proposed for the 2024-2025 school year.
A survey link will be emailed to families at schools with proposed catchment boundary changes on June 7, 2024.
Proposed catchment boundary changes
For a detailed description and map of the proposed school catchment changes for each school, please click on the school’s name below.
An interactive map of current and proposed elementary catchment boundary changes can be found here.
- 2023 capacity: 295
- Current enrolment: 420
- Proposed new catchment enrolment: approximately 320
- Oakridge and Golden Oaks neighbourhoods will become part of the Frank J Ney catchment.
- Current students whose catchment boundary school changes to Uplands, Cilaire or Rock City in September 2025 can remain at their current school and do not have to move to Uplands, Cilaire or Rock City.
- 2023 capacity: 415
- Current enrolment: 477
- Proposed new catchment enrolment: 363
- The lower end of the Rutherford Road hill in the current Randerson catchment area will move to the Rutherford catchment.
- While Randerson is projected to have enrolment below current capacity, this takes into consideration the proposed Green Thumb residential development in future years.
- 2023 capacity: 390
- Current enrolment: 482
- Proposed new catchment enrolment: approximately 380
- A section of McGirr’s current catchment at Hammond Bay and Brickyard Road will move to the Rutherford catchment.
- 2023 capacity: 415
- Current enrolment: 434
- Proposed new catchment enrolment: 343
- Golden Oaks and Oakridge neighbourhoods will become part of Frank J Ney catchment.
- According to proposed development designs, new neighbourhood connections (walking paths) will make Frank J Ney a walkable distance to Oakridge and Golden Oaks.
- Minor catchment changes are proposed.
- Current students at Uplands will not be required to move schools if their catchment boundary changes.
- New students to the catchment will be required to enrol in the catchment boundary school.
- Minor catchment changes are proposed.
- Current students at Cilaire will not be required to move schools if catchment boundary changes.
- New students to the catchment will be required to enrol in the catchment boundary school.
- Minor catchment changes are proposed.
- Current students at Rock City will not be required to move schools if their catchment boundary changes.
- New students to the catchment will be required to enrol in the catchment boundary school.
- Grade 7 students in the new Rutherford catchment will be able to move to Rutherford for Grade 7 or remain at their current school for Grade 7 and will not be required to transfer to Rutherford in September 2025. Siblings of Grade 7 students will also be able to remain in the same school as their Grade 7 sibling provided, they move to their new catchment school the following year (September 2026.)
- All other students in the Rutherford catchment will be required to move to Rutherford when it reopens in September 2025.
Questions
Additional questions can be emailed to RutherfordConsultation@sd68.bc.ca
1. My home address is in a new catchment boundary. Does this mean my child(ren) have to move schools?
Yes. All students will be required to attend the school in the new catchment boundary as of September 2025. The exceptions include:
- Students in Grade 7 in September 2025 and their siblings. Siblings may stay at their current school for the 2025-2026 school year provided they move to their new catchment school the following year.
- Current out of catchment students who have already been enrolled in a school through the district’s out of catchment request process.
2. Why can’t attending Rutherford be voluntary? Why disrupt families by re-drafting catchment boundaries and making moving to a new catchment school mandatory?
The district recognizes that moving schools is a significant change for students and their caregivers. To build vibrant school communities, schools need students in each grade. If the district proceeded with voluntary enrollment at Rutherford, we do not expect there would be enough students in each grade to build a vibrant school community. This could also result in multi-grade classrooms. Additionally, it would not address over capacity enrolment at most north end Nanaimo schools and would not reduce the number of children learning in portable classrooms.
The district is focused on ensuring a smooth and welcoming transition for all families moving to new school communities. Our goal is for every student to feel welcome and to thrive in their learning environment. All supports received and available at each child’s current school will be available to them at their new school.
Prior to September 2025, there will be many opportunities for children to become familiar with their new school community. This includes school tours, fun days for new students to meet and socialize with each other and the existing school community as well as social and emotional supports.
3. Can I make an out of catchment request for my child to stay at their current school?
The district will consider out of catchment requests and will prioritize students in this process who are currently enrolled at the school they wish to attend as an out of catchment student. However, these requests will only be granted if there is space for out of catchment students in your child’s grade. The district does not expect that there will be enough space in schools to accommodate most out of catchment requests.
4. My child(ren) is a current out of catchment student for (McGirr/Frank J Ney/Randerson/Departure Bay) do they have to move schools?
Students who have already used the out of catchment process and previously transferred into McGirr, Frank J Ney, Randerson or Departure Bay or lived in the catchment and then moved out of catchment, will not be required to transfer.
6. My child is starting kindergarten in September 2024. According to the proposed catchment boundary changes, they will have to move to a new school in September 2025. Can they start kindergarten at the new catchment boundary school?
Yes. Families may choose to have their students start at their new catchment school in September 2024, provided there is space. (ie. Catchment for September 2024 is currently Departure Bay but will be Frank J Ney in September 2025.) Please contact ereg@sd68.bc.ca if you wish to enrol in your September 2025 catchment school for September 2024.
7. Can I apply for out of catchment so my child doesn’t have to change schools?
Yes. However, all out of catchment requests are subject to available space in each grade. Out of catchment requests are accepted starting in the January prior to the next school year. For example, out of catchment requests for September 2025 can be submitted in January 2025. Out of catchment requests are made through the district registration form. It is not possible to submit an out of catchment request for September 2025 before January 2025.
