Parents fighting to keep unique Mill Bay school out of catchment pool [Video]

Evan Jamieson’s nine-year-old son Oliver has thrived at Mill Bay Nature School in Mill Bay, B.C., despite all of his challenges.

“He has special needs, autism, ADHD and limited language capacity,” said Jamieson.

The school, which takes students from kindergarten to Grade 7, offers a unique learning environment based around inclusion, with a heavy emphasis on outdoor learning.

“It’s really been an unqualified success story for him,” said Jamieson.

As of next year, the school will begin a transition prompted by the Cowichan Valley School District, to be rolled back into the school catchment system.

“What we’re doing is over the next three years moving kindergarten to Grade 2 into the Mill Bay School and having George E. Bonner School, which is just down the road, a Grade 3 to 7 school,” said Jeff Rowan, assistant superintendent, communications and community relations for the district.

Rowan says the Mill Bay Area …