The Okanagan Skaha School District will discuss the recent funding given back to them and how it will affect the future of school closures in the area on June 13.
In a press release issued on Friday, the school board said they will discuss how the re-instated funding will best serve the needs of all students in the district.
Penticton MLA Dan Ashton announced on May 31 that the school district will receive $266,527 for the upcoming school year. This money is coming from $25 million in administrative savings from school districts that was redirected to school boards across the province.
“This responds to concerns brought forward by districts throughout the province regarding funding concerns. These funds will address some of the immediate financial pressures currently being faced in our schools,” the school district said in a press release.
Ashton said there is a solution that is viable for all parties to save one or both, Trout Creek Elementary School and West Bench Elementary School. Those schools are slated to close on June 30, along with McNicoll Park.
“In the last five years there is 600 less students and that is the challenges the board has had to deal with. We have buildings, but what I don’t want to see is these buildings become inert. As I mentioned, these buildings are integral to communities. Take a look at Trout Creek, there are 70 lots on the market and there is an opportunity,” he said. “No different in West Bench, I want to see these opportunities and what we need to do is collectively work together.”
The Okanagan Similkameen School District 53 received $118,102 in redirected funds from the province and announced on Thursday that it would not be enough to counter the financial and academic reasons for closing Osoyoos Secondary School.
“We very much regret the emotional roller coaster this decision and recent announcement has created for students, parents and families in our community,” said Marieze Tarr, chairperson of the board of education.
They said due to declining enrolment, the poor condition of OSS and fewer academic choices that the school offers in comparison to the South Okanagan Secondary School in Oliver — they will stay with their choice to close the school in Osoyoos.
“We recognize that change can be challenging but we are committed to working with our school community through the transition to minimize concerns and maximize the opportunities that a larger school can offer our secondary students,” said Tarr.
Minister of Education Mike Bernier announced the redirected funding would be annual and ongoing, not a one-time deal.
B.C. New Democrat leader John Horgan said the Liberal government are “playing political games” that put education at risk and are an attempt to exterminate “bad headlines” until after the election next spring.
“… no cheques went to local school boards. Instead the Christy Clark government just cancelled their plan to claw back $25 million from school boards across B.C. this year,” said Horgan.
The Okanagan-Skaha school board also announced they are currently participating in a review by the Office of Ombudsperson about its processes leading to the decisions on closing the three schools; Trout Creek Elementary, West Bench Elementary and McNicoll Park.
“The Ombudsperson is an unbiased third party and as such, the district will await his comments. The board fully believes and remains confident that the process used regarding the closure of three schools in the district was a solid and consultative process,” said the school board press release.
The school board’s public meeting will take place on June 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the IMC building located behind the school board office at 425 Jermyn Ave.
