One of the key figures in responding to the Sooke School District’s rapid growth in recent years is retiring after 34 years in government and district roles.
During the dozen years that Harold Cull, 54, has served as secretary-treasurer of the district, the student population has grown by more than 50 per cent, from about 8,500 to over 13,000.
That equates to about 400 new students each year — enough to fill an average elementary school — with the district recently emerging as the fastest-growing in B.C.
“I’ve been out there for the last 12 years looking for land, and working with our municipalities to be able to identify parcels that are big enough for a school,” said Cull, adding it’s been a challenge to keep “ahead of that curve” as more people move into the district and the student population keeps going up.
The district knew growth was coming so the goal has been to secure land “before the development was all around it,” Cull said.
With 4.3 per cent growth per year, the number of students has reached 14,315 when all programs and online learning are added in.
Cull said his successor can count on dealing with continued growth. “Part of their role is going to be filling those pieces of land that we’ve already acquired for schools.”
One of his latest duties has been developing a business case for a new secondary school near Costco, something he hopes to be able to submit to government by the time he leaves by the end of the year. “Then it’s going to be my successor that will come in and get that over the finish line.”
The completed school is still four or five years away, he said.
Former Sooke School Board chair Ravi Parmar, now MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca, was on the board for much of Cull’s term and said he is a true leader who will be “desperately missed” by the district.
As for his decision to retire at the end of the year, Cull said it’s an opportunity to “take on some new challenges and look at some different options.”
One of those options will be playing more golf, since he recently rejoined Olympic View Golf Course.
Chances are Cull will be playing a few rounds with former district superintendent Scott Stinson, who retired at the end of 2023.
He will also serve as a board member for Island Health.
Cull praised the district for its “positive culture” and its close relationships with the municipalities it serves.
The district is currently looking for a replacement for Cull.
