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What you said: Readers react to flooded school front

Many agreed the problem should be fixed, while others believed it was simply a right of passage
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Flood waters creep out onto Cobble Hill Road during early January rain. (Aaron Henry photo)

Helicopter parent or just a dad concerned about his kids and other pedestrians? It depends on who you ask. When Aaron Henry talked to the Citizen about the flooding outside the Mill Bay Nature School, he hoped for a response from either the school district, or a solution from Emcon, the provincial contractor responsible for Cobble Hill Road’s service and maintenance.

SEE RELATED: Father concerned for student safety after school-front flooding in Mill Bay

What nobody really expected, were the comments when the story was posted on Facebook.

Many agreed the problem should be fixed, while others believed it was simply a right of passage for students.

“That school was a nightmare at drop off and pick up when my daughter attended so I get his concern, and that’s not with a giant pond limiting access,” wrote Erin Klatt.

Tina Mclaren remembered the old times.

“It was a nightmare when I went there in the ’70s, drop off and pick up was impossible,” she wrote.

“We played in that puddle every year as a kid in the late ’80s,” wrote Calvin Hill. “Nothing new.

“I was thinking, how fun for puddle jumping after school,” added Rachel Lloyd.

Jim Tredwell noted that drainage solutions cost money.

“I guess they could close a classroom or two in order to pay for a new drainage system to meet this person’s requirements,” Tredwell wrote. “…or maybe his kids should learn the consequences of getting a soaker and sitting around with a boot full of water like most of us had to experience.”

Kimberly Maas stood up for Henry.

“School pick ups and drops offs are literally chaos. So many moving people, obstructions, and safety concerns to start with,” she said. “Maybe they could just come up with a plan of action to make it as safe as possible for all parties. I don’t think this father is being ridiculous, he’s concerned for the well being on his school and surrounding community. Sounds like a rad human.”

Vicki Miller wondered what her taxes were going to.

“Why do we pay taxes? Is it to have proper maintenance and services for all to use? I think we have gotten away from what the tax payers accept as status quo and we do not accept a higher standard of services,” she said. “This isn’t a school problem it’s a MOT problem which is funded by everyone’s tax dollars. A lot of things were acceptable in the ’80s (we won’t go there), let’s look to the future and expect proper roadways as a starting point.”

Henry said the latest rain has resulted in the giant puddle once again, just in time for back to school after the holidays.



Sarah Simpson

About the Author: Sarah Simpson

I started my time with Black Press Media as an intern, before joining the Citizen in the summer of 2004.
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