Brenda Dorosz, chair of the Osoyoos Independent School committee, updated members of the community recently on the progress being made to establish an independent high school At left, Kuldeep Rai, a committee member, waits to provide interpretation in Punjabi for Indo-Canadians attending. (Richard McGuire photo)
Brenda Dorosz, an advocate for schools in Osoyoos, is urging caution in response to Wednesday’s provincial government announcement of funding to keep Osoyoos Secondary School (OSS) open.
“I would like to believe it, but we can’t jump to conclusions,” said Dorosz, who chaired the Save Our Schools committee, which fought the closure of OSS. She is now chairing a committee aiming to start an independent school in Osoyoos.
“It’s up to the trustees to apply for the funding,” she said, pointing to the potential fly in the ointment.
OSS is one of nine schools in B.C. that are specifically mentioned as being eligible for this provincial funding, which would offset any savings a school district might gain by closing a school.
Nonetheless, recently Marieze Tarr, chair of School District 53, has cited other reasons why the school board wants to close OSS, including making more courses available by combining Osoyoos and Oliver high school populations.
Tarr could not be reached for comment on the government’s announcement.
Dorosz urged caution at the end of May when a previous government funding announcement was rumoured to be enough to save OSS, and she was disappointed that some people celebrated before details were known.
In the end, it turned out to be a mere $118,102, which the trustees decided wasn’t enough.
“I’m getting phone calls now like crazy, but I’m telling people just to wait,” Dorosz said. “The kids are on a roller coaster. They get all excited and then they’re crying again. We can’t put our kids through it any more.”
Dorosz said she would prefer that OSS stays open, but she and the Osoyoos Independent School (OIS) committee are pushing ahead with plans for an independent school.
“We won’t stop doing anything until we have absolute confirmation the school (OSS) is going to be open,” she said.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
