SD74 Video Public Response and Update

(Disclosure:  The Hub Online Network operates out of the Ashcroft Elementary School).

A couple of days ago the HUB Online Network did a video in regards to the news about the potential of School District 74 starting the disposal process for the previous Ashcroft Elementary School building now referred to as the Ashcroft HUB. The HON has also filmed and shared the actual School Board meeting with the community on YouTube.

The HON would like to remind everyone that disposal does not mean to tear the building down, it does for the purposes of School District mean to remove the building and property from the School Districts financial books.

There are many different ways that this can be achieved, and there are many rules, hoops and regulations that have to be followed to have this actually happen. This is not something that will happen overnight, and to quote SD74 Chair Remple, you don't need to panic… yet.

The Ashcroft HUB has provided a statement on this topic, which is as follows: MEDIA RELEASE FROM The Ashcroft HUB Society DATE: January 6, 2021 Re: School District Building Disposal Process At the Tuesday, January 5th meeting of the Board of Education for School District No. 74 it was approved to proceed with the disposal process for the building that the Ashcroft HUB currently leases. The first step in a building disposal process according the school board’s policies is to complete a consultation process. The consultation process has not yet been announced; however, it is expected that by January 8th, 2021, community should be informed of the process and the timeline to receive community input. During the School District’s disposal process, the Ashcroft HUB will continue to provide services as always. The board of directors at the Ashcroft HUB are diligently working on a long-term plan to ensure that the HUB continues to serve communities now and into the future. We ask that community continue to support the Ashcroft HUB as you always have and to provide your feedback to the school district once the process is announced.

Since our previous video the HON has received a couple of emails from local citizens that the HON has permission to read on air. One example is as follows.

From Tova:  "Hello, I would like to express my concern at the possibility of losing the Ashcroft Hub, should the school district decide to regain possession of the former AES and then dispose of the building and property. The Hub is invaluable to us.

My 9yr old daughter enjoys dance class at the Hub, the dance company has been operating from there for the last 5 yrs. They also have adult dance classes; the Hub holds amazing kids summer camps, RAWK camps, even virtual camps this past summer from the Hub. We have had art classes for kids and adults, there is fitness classes, yoga classes, it is the home of WRAPS, Merv's Gym, the Hutch, the HON, and a few others. Personally my kids benefited in 2019 with being a part of Shrek The Musical, and my now 11 yr old daughter discovered her love of acting at the Hub. The Hub Online Network is great at keeping the community informed. Many adults also attend classes and meetings there. What am I missing? I fully support the Ashcroft Hub. This is too valuable an asset to this community to lose it now.

I also feel that this decision should be at minimum postponed for a period of time until things are a bit more stable, with regards to the pandemic. I feel it would be unfair to make a decision on this matter without proper community consultation, and the public is not permitted to get together for meetings at this time. Virtual meetings for a decision such as this are not adequate because not everyone is tech savvy and not everyone has the internet capability to join an online meeting."

For reference --  A nonprofit organization is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in contrast with an entity that operates as a business aiming to generate a profit for its owners. A nonprofit is subject to the non-distribution constraint: any revenues that exceed expenses must be committed to the organization's purpose, not taken by private parties. A wide array of organizations are nonprofit, including most political organizations, schools, business associations, churches, social clubs, and consumer cooperatives. Nonprofit entities generally seek approval from governments to be tax-exempt, and some may also qualify to receive tax-deductible contributions. But an entity may incorporate as a nonprofit entity without securing tax-exempt status.