It appears that most Clearwater residents favor the municipality taking ownership of Dutch Lake School.
Only a handful of speakers spoke against the proposed sale during a public consultative meeting held by School District 73 board of trustees last Monday evening, and even they seemed to favor their proposal in general, even if they questioned certain details.
The former School District 26 (North Thompson) acquired the property for Dutch Lake School in 1960, said secretary-treasurer Kelvin Stretch in a presentation. Cost was $2,500.
The school opened in 1961 and was expanded several times. Its size supports an enrollment of 225.
Dutch Lake Elementary was closed in July, 2003 due to declining enrollment. It has since been used for the alternative school and distributive learning programs.
Operating expenses (utilities) to maintain the largely empty school over the past seven years have been about $140,000, Stretch said ($20,000 per year).
The district has also spent about $260,000 on capital expenses, mostly for a new roof.
Will the school be needed in the future? Raft River Elementary is presently at 89 per cent capacity, Stretch said. However, there is plenty of room at Clearwater Secondary and Vavenby Elementary.
Dutch Lake School was appraised in 2006 at $410,000.
Robert Beaudry was the only speaker to have made a submissio in writing before the meeting.
“My wife and I are big supporters of the concept,” he told the school trustees. “Overall, we think it would be a fantastic proposal.”
Beaudry had a couple of questions, however.
One was whether the proposed facility would compete with private businesses for rental tenants.
There is already quite a bit of empty office space in Clearwater, he pointed out.
The existing rental property owners have invested money to upgrade their premises and it would be unfair if they would have to compete with a publicly funded facility. He mentioned by name one of his tenants, Clearwater Employment Services, which he would not want to lose to a renovated Dutch Lake School.
Beaudry also was concerned that a recreation facility in the proposed project might compete with his existing fitness center. Other communities have seen private fitness centers forced out of business by publicly subsidized facilities, he said. Local taxpayers are then saddled with an extra burden as a result.
Local realtor Larissa Hadley echoed many of Beaudry’s thoughts.
“It’s a great concept and a great location,” she said. “Just stay out of renting space to private enterprise.”
Steve Hurst, a resident of Dutch Lake Road, said his children regularly make use of the school’s field as a play area.
“I’m all for buying it and using it,” he said.
Hurst suggested that proper zoning might prevent the building being used in conflict with private rental property owners.
Even if the municipality paid the full $410,000 the school was appraised at five year ago it would be a bargain, he felt.
“For $410,000 you could buy a house,” said Hurst.
Former school trustee Hazel Wadlegger said she was all in favor of the proposal.
“I don’t think council wants to compete with private businesses,” she said, “and I think property values have gone down a bit from five years ago.”
Tammy Augustine noted that the building is old and does not have modern measures such as a radon barrier.
“Possibly the money could be better spent elsewhere,” she said.
“The building is not going away,” said Steve Miller. He suggested waiting on a decision until someone expresses an interest in using it and the economy improves.
The residents of Clearwater paid for Dutch Lake School during the days of School District 26 (North Thompson) said Roger Mayer. Local taxpayers have been paying for it since it was built.
“I’m very much in favor of the proposal,” said Peter Persad. “It’s in an excellent central location near the lake. To build an equivalent building today would cost at least $2 million.”
Having Dutch Lake School as a community center would help attract people to the area, felt Lianna Beaudry.
Another person in the audience was concerned about what would happen if the local economy turns around and enrollment increases.
School board chair Ken Christian replied that is possible to re-configure schools in ways other than the traditional elementary/secondary. For example, Logan Lake has one school with K – Grade 3 and a second with Grades 4 – 12. Beattie School of the Arts in Kamloops is K – 12.
Cheryl Thomas suggested one solution to overcrowding at Raft River Elementary would be to move into the Community Resource Center next door. That would save on maintenance costs because the CRC staff is either volunteers or paid one-quarter of what unionized workers get, she said.
Speaking as a resident, not a town councilor, Brent Buck said he had gone to Dutch Lake for all seven of his elementary school years. He spoke in favor of the proposal and noted that staying in the present municipal office would require some major renovations for wheelchair access.
Joanne Wright, a former Dutch Lake teacher, noted that the hill beside the field at Dutch Lake School would be an ideal natural amphitheatre.
