MLA Linda Larson.
It would not be appropriate for the provincial government to play an active role in efforts to keep Osoyoos schools open, says MLA Linda Larson.
Larson does say, however, that she is playing a supportive role with parties involved in discussions over the potential closure of either Osoyoos Secondary School (OSS) or Osoyoos Elementary School (OSE).
“The province does not interfere with elected officials unless they are grossly mismanaging something,” Larson said in an interview last week. “I am not interfering with the process. I am supporting the process.”
Larson said she has had contact with the Town of Osoyoos, School District 53 and Brenda Dorosz, chair of the pro-school citizens group Save Our Schools (SOS).
She has not yet had face-to-face meetings with them, but she intends to, she said.
Asked if her talks have extended beyond providing moral support to giving advice, Larson responded: “No, I do not give advice. I support.”
Former Osoyoos Mayor Stu Wells has argued that the closure of OSS would be devastating to the town and it is not appropriate that the decision to close the school should be made by trustees from other communities who were not elected by residents of Osoyoos.
Instead, he said, the decision should be made by Education Minister Mike Bernier. Bernier and Premier Christy Clark should come to Osoyoos to be accountable, Wells said.
Larson, however, disagrees.
“I think that Mr. Wells, who sat on the school board himself, would take a great offense to having the province tell him what to do when he was in that position,” Larson said. “And I think perhaps he forgets that.”
Prior to 2002, any decision to close schools had to be approved by the provincial education minister.
The B.C. Liberal government removed this requirement, making it easier for school districts to close schools.
Larson said she has been encouraging the school district and others to put all options on the table.
“They have not made a definitive decision yet,” she said. “So I don’t believe there’s really a statement to be made here. I do not support the closing of schools anywhere, period, if there is any other way to do it. Okay?”
Larson declined to comment on the impact on Osoyoos if OSS were to close.
“I’m not going to go down that path,” she said.
Dorosz said Larson last week arranged for Bernier to give her a call and he had a conversation with her.
“I was so excited,” said Dorosz. “He came across very, very nice.”
While the minister asked her about what SOS is doing and gave moral support, he maintained that the closure decision is entirely up to the school board, she said.
Dorosz told Bernier that she hopes the trustees will put forward a motion giving more time to make a decision while exploring alternatives. The minister agreed this would be a good idea, she said.
Bernier told her that Larson has been keeping him informed on the situation, Dorosz said.
Bernier told her that he had experience with schools closing in Dawson Creek.
Often the parents are upset, but the children adjust and get through it, Dorosz said the minister told her.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
