Some exciting additions are coming to the Delta school district, says board chair Dale Saip.
In an interview with the Optimist at the district's administrative offices in Ladner earlier this week, Saip talked about some of the changes that will be coming to Delta schools this September.
New this year is an expansion of the music program for grades 6 and 7, which will include theory as well as instrumental instruction.
"We're not really spending any new money but we've been able to reallocate some of the monies we have in place," Saip said. "We're asking people to donate used band instruments."
A film production academy will launch at the Delta Manor Education Centre in Ladner, which will also see students in the acting academy at South Delta Secondary involved as there's a tremendous synergy between the two programs, noted Saip.
The district is also starting a lacrosse academy at Delta Secondary and an academic academy with a Sustainable Earth theme at SDSS, although the lat-ter will be operating as an independent directed study until the enrollment number increases.
Meanwhile, other academy ideas are being explored, including rowing. The community still needs to be consulted and an appropriate school identified before that academy is launched.
Initial conversations have been held with the Deas Island Rowing Club on how that academy could look. In the meantime, students wanting to focus on rowing will be able to take an independent directed study curriculum, much
like those that are taking equestrian studies but don't have a full academy to attend.
Saip said another idea he'd like to see pursued is an agricultural academy.
The district is also planning to build at least two covered sports fields (one in South Delta and the other in North Delta) sometime this school year.
The district announced several weeks ago it was hoping to build the facilities that would have lighted artificial turf surfaces covered with a stainless steel roof and frame. The structures wouldn't be completely closed as the sides would be open to the outdoors but fenced. On the inside, dasher boards would surround the fields, which could be used for a variety of sports
About 30,000-square-feet in size, early estimates have each facility costing over $1 million.
The project has already garnered significant community support, according to the district, which is interested in partnerships with organizations, businesses and individuals.
"We're in the process of working with the community groups, the soccer people, the lacrosse people, all the people, funding partners and sponsors, building a business plan and getting more in terms of detailed architectural drawings," Saip said.
In South Delta, the sports dome would be located at Delta Secondary, where the district and school PAC originally hoped to convince the municipality to locate a new artificial turf field, instead of Delta building it at Dugald Morrison Park.
Saip said having the covered sports facilities would solve a lot of problems when it comes to players having to practice in nasty weather.
It would also free up school gyms, he added.
