Vandalism is an issue for SD #43, not an issue in Anmore…yet.
Posted on | February 14, 2009 |
Currently our little Village of Anmore has a low crime rate, that’s why I live here. Its great knowing that no one is going to walk by my home and throw garbage in my yard, there’s no worry about going for a run in the evening, I don’t have to think about whether or not I activated the alarm on my home of vehicle. I don’t have to worry about anyone disregarding traffic laws, or speeding past my house when my children are outside in my yard. I don’t think about the lack of police force here in Anmore simply because I don’t need to! It’s beautiful. I am quite concerned that all of that is about to change with the proposed addition of Heritage Woods Middle School.
In an article in the Maple Ridge Times regarding vandalism in schools it was reported that throughout the school district (#43) in 2008, there were 65 break & enters and 253 reports of broken windows from September to May - statistics for the rest of the year weren’t available yet at the time of the article.
After reading this little fact, I find myself quite concerned that the life I have come to know in Anmore is coming to an abrupt end.
I’ve been following the development of this school and I have yet to hear from the school board how this school will be monitored, who will be the monitor, and what impact this will have on our lives here. I wonder, why haven’t any of these things been discussed?
Don’t misunderstand me here schools are great things! I am not anti-education. I am anti- don’t do an impact analysis, disregard the opinions of the neighbors, and ignore negative reports by experts. I am an everyday citizen. I work, play, and live in Anmore. I’ve elected officials that are supposed to take care of these situations and look out for my interests, and the interests of my neighbors. I shouldn’t have to spend my Saturday morning on this blog, or worrying about the value of my property, the safety of my children, and how statistics prove our crime free quality of life will change if this school is built. I should know that my concerns will be heard and considered and I shouldn’t have to take to the internet in order to prompt proper procedure from elected officials on the School Board and Council in Anmore.
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For more information regarding the proposed building of Heritage Middle School please contact:
Village of Anmore - Anmore Mayor Hal Weinberg, Councilor John McEwen, Councilor Kerri Palmer Isaak, Councilor Mario Piamonte, Anmore Councilor Chris Sedergreen. 2697 Sunnyside Road, Anmore, BC, V3H 5G9
School District 43 – SD43 - Tom Grant Superintendant of Schools, Dan Derpak, Assistant Superintendant of Schools, Holly Butterfield School Trustee. 550 Poirier Street, Coquitlam, B.C. V3J 6A7
Comments
3 Responses to “Vandalism is an issue for SD #43, not an issue in Anmore…yet.”
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February 17th, 2009 @ 8:56 am
Wow - what a lovely idyllic picture you paint. However, people do violate traffic laws in Anmore, people do vandalize property in Anmore, and you really should activate your alarms when you leave your home and car unattended. Crime travels…we should be prepared. Although you may be blissfully unaware of the crime that occurs here in our “beautiful” community - it does nevertheless occur. Inadequate policing is a current concern that may or may not be aggravated by the new school (there is, of course, no “factual evidence” that can prove or disprove this current middle school impact theory).
Regarding the school, I hope that you do not intend to imply that the location of a middle school in our community will CAUSE increased crime. That is untenable…perhaps increasing population density is to blame or maybe media violence, what about improper supervision of children by absent parents…Many experts have tried to understand the many and diverse probable causes of increasing crime, yet the riddle remains to be solved…
February 17th, 2009 @ 5:15 pm
Funny enough… the only vandalism I have seen in Anmore lately is the installation of several loud and rude signs along East Road on public property without a permit. Hmm, vandalism has already started, but I guess it is the adults and not the students that should be reprimanded this time.
Hopefully the culprits will be fined.
February 26th, 2009 @ 12:34 pm
The author has a point in that the neighborhoods surrounding existing schools have already adjusted to having a school in their midst. Property values have fallen or risen accordingly; roads have long been upgraded to handle the traffic, etc.
We all know that sometimes new schools are necessary, but the question at hand is: in the present situation are there reasonable alternatives to the vast expense of building a new school with the attendant disruption of a neighborhood? I believe that sufficient questions have been raised to at least pause before embarking upon such an enormous and costly project.