The potential closure of both the 100 Mile House Junior Secondary (PSO) and Buffalo Creek Elementary schools are among the options presented at a School District #27 (SD27) special board meeting Sept. 25.
Resulting reconfigurations of all remaining south-end elementary schools, kindergarten-Grade 8, and Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School, Grades 9-12, are also on the board’s slate of options.
SD27 chair Will Van Osch says nothing is set in stone and trustees want to hear public input and ideas. He adds they began by simply presenting and clarifying the options rather than taking comments at the board meeting.
The trustees’ Initial Options Report also includes other potential changes for public consideration, as a means to mitigate a budget shortage of about $800,000 stemming from a reduction in Ministry of Education funding protection announced in January, Van Osch explains.
The balance of the money saved from these options would be put toward new buildings and improvements at the other schools that need them, he adds, as well as solve some ongoing problems, including declining enrolment and funding.
A public workshop will be held in 100 Mile House Junior Secondary gymnasium Oct. 4, starting at 6:30 p.m.
The goal is to discuss the options and the overall strategic plan currently under development.
Later, an Out of the Box Think Tank meeting will be held in the PSO gymnasium on Oct. 23, starting at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 23 for additional public input and idea gathering.
Meetings will also be held in November in each school’s catchment area for those students and parents specifically affected.
The report, the timeline for future meetings and other ways to provide input can be downloaded online at www.sd27.bc.ca.
