Brenda Dorosz (right), chair of the Save Our Schools committee, was among the volunteers handing out shirts to Osoyoos Secondary School students on Friday. The shirts, with the hashtag #OsoyoosStrong, were created by Jamie Elder of Unity Osoyoos, along with other volunteers. They are intended to show pride for education in Osoyoos. Proceeds raised from selling the shirts in the community will help to fund an independent community high school, which many in the community hope will fill the void left by the planned closure of OSS. (Richard McGuire photo)
Students from Osoyoos Secondary School (OSS) are being sent to Oliver this week for an orientation and course selection, but some parents are not impressed.
The bylaw to close OSS has still not received its necessary third reading and that won’t happen until the board of School District 53 meets on April 27.
That’s because unanimous approval would have been required at the April 6 special board meeting to pass all three readings of the closure bylaw at a single meeting.
The closure was approved in a 4-3 vote meaning it’s conceivable, if unlikely, that a trustee could change his or her mind before the bylaw is given third reading.
OSS Principal Mike Safek sent an email last Wednesday to parents of OSS students advising them that the school is moving forward immediately to “transition” students to Southern Okanagan Secondary School (SOSS) in Oliver.
Students, accompanied by OSS teachers, are being sent to SOSS from Tuesday to Friday this week for an orientation.
They are also receiving course selection forms, which they are expected to submit early next week – before the school closure bylaw is passed.
Some parents were vowing on social media that they would not authorize their children to attend the orientation at SOSS.
Brenda Dorosz, chair of the Save Our Schools committee, wrote last week to school board chair Marieze Tarr, Superintendent Bev Young and Safek asking them to halt this action immediately.
“How can this be considered ahead of third reading?” Dorosz asked. “This is another example of parents not being consulted in the future of their child’s education.”
Asked why this “transition” was taking place ahead of the passage of the bylaw, Safek sent an email reply to the Osoyoos Times last Thursday.
“Our students have been experiencing anxiety and concern in regard to not knowing what next year will look like for them at SOSS,” Safek wrote. “To address this, and to provide our students with answers and information about what next year could look like, we have decided to arrange transition activities for next week rather than waiting to a later date.”
Young also sent an emailed response to Dorosz.
“I am sure you can appreciate that, in the best interest of students, plans for transition need to begin,” Young wrote. “Many students and parents are asking what the transition will entail. As well, we have collective agreement timelines to meet regarding staff. If the decision changes as a result of the third reading, these plans can easily be curtailed.”
Safek said in his email to parents that children are not required to go to SOSS for the orientation this week, but if they don’t attend, they should treat the day as a regular school day at OSS.
Following an SOS committee meeting Friday evening, Dorosz issued a statement suggesting that if students wish to tour SOSS, they should do so.
“However, please remember all options are being explored to educate our youth in our community this September,” she added.
She also encouraged members of the public to show up at the boardroom of the School District 53 office in Oliver at 7 p.m. for third reading of the closure bylaw.
“Parents and students are urged to contact the appropriate trustees requesting them to keep OSS open,” Dorosz said.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
Osoyoos realtor Eileen McGinn was among the volunteers handing out T-shirts to students at Osoyoos Secondary School (OSS) Friday morning with the hashtag #OsoyoosStrong. The shirts were created by Jamie Elder of Unity Osoyoos, along with other volunteers. They are intended to show pride for education in Osoyoos. Proceeds raised from selling the shirts in the community will help to fund an independent community high school, which many in the community hope will fill the void left by the planned closure of OSS. (Richard McGuire photo)
