from the Royal City Record, January 13, 2010
EXCERPT:
The presentation from Malmgren and Alkins was meant to offer an update to the public on the plans for three schools in New Westminster: an elementary school, middle school and high school.
Instead, it turned into more of a public venting session for frustrated parents, Mercer Stadium supporters, the Massey Theatre camp and concerned Chinese-Canadians.
Former NWSS drama teacher Fionna Bailey tackled the city question head-on. She asked if there were any representatives from the city at the meeting and if the city had been invited.
"We gave them notice we were meeting," Alkins told her.
"Shouldn't we all be consulting with the city, the parks and the school board?" asked Bailey.
The crowd applauded her comments.
Bailey said she heard that the city hadn't been invited.
Board of education chair James Janzen said "the city made it clear that it wasn't going to be involved."
"This is just an information session," he said. "I just hope the next meeting will be a joint meeting."
Bailey also took issue with the district's presentation, saying it depicted Massey Theatre in a negative light by detailing what she considers an inflated cost to upgrade the facility.
"Why are you being so negative?" she asked. "Is it because you want Massey torn down? ... The Mercer and Massey are not seen as community assets but as constraints."
Malmgren said there was no intention of seeing the Massey torn down by providing information about the $18-million cost to upgrade the theatre.
"We tried to put forward information," he said.
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I was not able to attend this "information session." Was there any "new" information presented at this meeting?
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