The Qualicum School District and the Town of Qualicum Beach continue to work on a solution for the Qualicum Commons building, although no formal agreement has been announced.
“We remain optimistic that this will have a positive outcome for the tenants and for certainly the school board,” Ron Amos, secretary treasurer for the school district, said during the board's Jan. 28 meeting.
Qualicum School District announced last spring it intended to close both facilities due to the approximately $4 million to $5 million in capital costs that need to be addressed between the two.
The Craig Street Commons in Parksville will close Jan. 1, 2026, following a decision by the Qualicum School District's board of trustees. Both commons are home to a variety of community-based activities and programs.
Amos said the town is conducting a review of the Qualicum Commons.
“In the meantime they have contacted and reached out to the tenants seeking information on terms of their willingness to stay on," he said. "And their desire to, if they did want more space or less space, this would be the time that the town is listening to that information from the tenants."
The town and school district released a joint statement back in July that indicated the two would pursue a longer term option for the Qualicum Commons.
Since then, Amos said, town staff and school board staff have been "engaged in conversations about a formal agreement to take on the leasing".
He added the town plans to reach out to the Save the Commons group for discussion as well.
Once town staff have completed the building inspection they will report back to council.
The school district shut down four elementary schools back in 2014 due to low enrolment, including Parksville Elementary and Qualicum Beach Elementary, which became known as Craig Street Commons and Qualicum Commons, respectively.
