Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff discusses the potential of school closures with Mayor Ron Hovanes (left) and school administrators Mike Safek, Dave Foster and Jason McAllister. Oliver schools have not been recommended for closure at this time. Photo by Lyonel Doherty
While Oliver parents are breathing a sigh of relief that their schools won’t be closed, the same can’t be said for the Osoyoos community.
Last Wednesday the school board passed two recommendations that could see the potential closure of either Osoyoos Secondary or Osoyoos Elementary.
The reason: A $530,000 structural deficit and a continuing decline in enrolment.
“It doesn’t matter what we do, it’s going to hurt,” said school trustee Myrna Coates after hearing the recommendations from senior staff.
The board is proceeding with a consultation process to consider the closure of Osoyoos Secondary School and the transfer of students to Southern Okanagan Secondary School in Oliver.
The second option is proceeding with a consultation process to consider the closure of Osoyoos Elementary School, and renovating Osoyoos Secondary to accommodate a K-9 program, and transfer Grades 10 to 12 students to Southern Okanagan Secondary School.
The board discussed the potential closure of schools in Oliver, Keremeos and Okanagan Falls, but in the end trustees agreed to leave those facilities untouched for now.
School trustee Rob Zandee said if the board continues to see enrolment declines in the next couple of years, the issue of potential closures in Oliver could be back on the table.
“I find it very difficult to accept,” said Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff.
The former teacher said the board’s two options under consideration will create a great deal of confusion and “will be a huge issue.”
School trustee June Harrington agreed, saying closing either school will be “devastating” to the Osoyoos community.
Secretary Treasurer Lynda Minnabarriet painted a bleak picture of declining enrolment in district schools. Combined with their deficit, which is projected to grow to $1.4 million by the 2017/18 school year, the board has to do something, trustees agreed.
Minnabarriet said closing one school will save the district between $250,000 and $400,000. Even then, the board will have to come up with other measures to erase the deficit.
School trustee Sam Hancheroff slammed the provincial government for its continued cutbacks. “It’s a sad day for School District 53 and for education,” he said.
Trustee Rob Zandee asked what would happen if the board delivered a deficit budget. Minnabarriet said the last school board that did that was fired by the province.
But Village of Keremeos councillor Sherry Philpott-Adhikary said the board needs to “rise up” and demand more money from the provincial government.
“You’re going to ruin a whole generation of kids (here).”
Oliver Mayor Ron Hovanes said he absolutely felt for McKortoff, admitting he was “gutted” when he saw the recommendations come up on screen.
Hovanes told the board that if it is seriously considering closing the high school in Osoyoos, then it should be discussing the issue with Oliver’s high school too.
School board chair Marieze Tarr said the district doesn’t have other options to save money, noting the majority of the budget is spent on staffing and teaching.
“We need to keep the money in the classroom.”
Belinda Yorke, chair of the Oliver Elementary School Parents Advisory Council (PAC), said schools are being asked to get by with far less in their budgets than in previous years (due to provincial funding reductions and shortfalls).
“No one wants to see any schools close but the reality is the school district is in a deficit,” she said. “Sadly, one such way to find funds is to consolidate schools and utilize our resources as effectively as possible.”
Yorke acknowledged the board is in a difficult position because there are many community members that will be affected by the decision.
“But I trust that the board will make the decision for what is best for the school district.”
Neither the principal of Tuc-el-Nuit Elementary nor its PAC president could be reached for comment.
Meanwhile, in Osoyoos, parents and town officials are getting ready for the school board’s first community engagement meeting Feb. 9.
By Lyonel Doherty
