Some difficult decisions need to be made now if Osoyoos is to have a high school this September.
It now seems all but certain that Osoyoos Secondary School (OSS) will close at the end of June and will not reopen.
It’s true a court must still hear the town’s petition for an injunction to keep OSS open, but at best, a positive ruling would only grant a temporary reprieve, leading to more uncertainty.
And any faint hopes that the provincial government might come to the rescue at the last minute were shattered late last month in an unfortunate fiasco of political posturing and irresponsible rumour mongering masquerading as “reporting.” Names need not be mentioned.
No, the only hope for a high school in Osoyoos this fall is an independent school. And the only realistic hope for that is through the Osoyoos Independent School (OIS) committee in a partnership with Good Shepherd Christian School, with some initial financial support from the town.
The community was united in wanting OSS to stay open, but opinion is more divided about whether town resources should be used to support an independent school. Residents need to carefully consider the pros and cons and make their views known to town council. Some residents, especially those with no children, are concerned that the use of town resources will result in an increase in taxes. Or at the very least, will force other town projects to be delayed in order to free up funds for the school.
They point out that they will still pay school taxes to the province in addition to any additional municipal taxes they might pay.
The counter argument is that the lack of a school in Osoyoos will also hit the taxpayer in the pocket. If Osoyoos can’t provide Grade 8 to 12 education, we will see an exodus of families and businesses, resulting in a reduced tax base. And remaining taxpayers will pick up the shortfall.
It was unrealistic for OIS to expect the town to provide the same $352,000 a year for three years that it was prepared to provide to the school district to keep OSS open. But a much more modest subsidy, at least to get the school off the ground, might be more affordable if it is understood it will not be ongoing.
The town will likely need to be assured that the school is viable and there is sufficient community support before committing funding beyond the first year.
Other residents are concerned about allowing the school to use the Sonora Community Centre, which is a facility that belongs to the whole community.
OIS has sought to minimize such disruptions with its timetable and by agreeing to let other community groups use the upstairs rooms outside of school hours. But again, this situation is not ideal and should only be a temporary solution.
Ultimately, it makes more sense for the independent school to use the old OSS facility, but that’s simply not going to happen in time for the coming school year. School District 53 has a financial incentive in hoping the independent school will fail, because it gets more provincial grants by shipping Osoyoos students off to Oliver. Eventually, however, the school district must use, lease or dispose of the building.
It can only be used for school purposes, and if it is disposed of, it reverts to the province. So there’s a good chance the OSS building will be available to the independent school in the very near future.
We support the public school system, but next year the only public option for high school will be in Oliver. Unfortunately, we cannot drag out a decision much longer. Residents of Osoyoos must decide whether it is worth it to make some modest short-term sacrifices to keep schooling in this community and maintain the long-term viability of the town.
