Brenda Dorosz, chair of the Osoyoos Independent School committee, says a partnership with Good Shepherd Christian School is moving forward, though many details still need to be worked out. (Richard McGuire file photo)
The proposed independent community high school for Osoyoos took a big step forward Thursday night when the board overseeing Good Shepherd Christian School voted to pursue a partnership with the Osoyoos Independent School (OIS) committee.
“The partnership is not done yet,” cautioned Brenda Dorosz, chair of OIS. “There are things that we have to do and one of them is (to obtain a) facility. But the great news is they did not say no. They voted last night to continue working with us.”
The decision, she said, was a huge relief.
“We were all on pins and needles,” she said. “It’s very, very positive.”
Dorosz said OIS met with Good Shepherd on Wednesday evening at length to discuss the business plan and to try to iron out any concerns either side had.
Developments on the new school have been taking place daily, said Dorosz, adding that there’s been one meeting or other virtually every night.
A town hall meeting to update the community is planned for May 24 at 7 p.m. in the gymnasium at the Sonora Community Centre, she said.
The facility is the next big step and Dorosz said OIS has asked the town to make a decision by May 20. OIS will be meeting in camera with council on Monday, she said.
OIS hopes to use the top floor of the Sonora Community Centre for the school, but the needs of other users of the centre will need to be accommodated, Dorosz said. OIS has met with Gerald Davis, town director of community services, to try to work out some of those details.
OIS is also asking for shared use of the gym as well as outdoor facilities such as Desert Park and the Kinsmen field for physical education programs.
They are also seeking the same $352,000 per year that the town was willing to offer School District 53 (SD 53) over three years to keep Osoyoos Secondary School (OSS) open. SD 53 turned down that offer saying their minds were already made up to close OSS.
“We gave them a significant ask list, so we have to wait,” said Dorosz.
She noted that the upstairs capacity of the Sonora centre is 205 people. OIS has come up with a schedule to try to accommodate existing users.
“We don’t want to displace people,” said Dorosz. “So we will do everything in our power as a community school, because I think it’s going to be a true community school, to not displace.”
She added though that if any displacement is required, volunteers are prepared to help with renovations to ensure that any displacement causes the least disruption possible.
Dorosz said she plans further meetings in coming days to explore the possibility of establishing a golf academy and a soccer academy at the new school.
At the town hall on May 24, registration for the new school will be taking place. Dorosz said OIS will also be seeking volunteers for some of the subcommittees.
Dorosz said she’s also had talks with officials at the Ministry of Education about taking over the present OSS site, but she noted this would take too long to make it possible for the 2016-17 school year. It is an option for down the road, she said.
This would require some kind of agreement with SD 53, which she acknowledges could be difficult in the near term.
“They’re not too happy with us right now,” she said.
Watch OsoyoosTimes.com and the Osoyoos Times for further updates on this story.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
