Dear Editor:

The following are some musings and reiteration about the recent community input meeting sponsored by School District 53 in the gymnasium at Osoyoos Secondary School.

School District superintendent Bev Young erroneously suggested that student full time equivalency (FTE) is based on “bums in seats.”

Actually, at the secondary level, the Ministry of Education bases funding on the number of courses a student takes.

Each course a student takes is worth 0.125 of a FTE. If a student takes eight courses over the course of a year, that equates to 1.0 FTE.

Given equivalency, independent directed study courses, the timetable offered to the student, secondary students can, in fact, take and claim and be funded for more than a 1.0 course load.

It is admirable that Osoyoos Secondary School is looking at a revised four-day timetable to effect some cost savings.

However, unless the entire district is going to pursue this unique way of saving money in the budget, it will be a futile endeavour that will create a myriad of logistical challenges throughout the district.

For example, teachers on call, given the choice, may decide to work only at OSS as the schedule would include an extra block of time in the day that would be worth 1.25 days of salary.

Busing and the coaching of sports teams would also be problematic on a variety of levels.

This “four day week” idea has merit, notwithstanding the concerns of parents needing to revise their own schedules to accommodate this shift, but would need to be across the district, not just an issue for Osoyoos alone.

Simply because the pursuit of International students met with little success a decade ago doesn’t mean the idea should be buried.

The attraction of the international student – who could generate between $12,000 to $15,000 dollars per student per year – is a concept that could be promoted with the OSS golf academy, particularly with the blossoming of women’s golf around the world in recent years.

This type of advertising and promotion is not easy and it would need to be championed and nurtured by the board, administration, teachers, and potential parent billets for these children.

At the very least, the idea shouldn’t simply be ignored by the board simply because no one had the political will to make it happen in the past.

Speaking of political will, it struck me the board members are more concerned about “being fired by the ministry” than they are about taking a stand for our students.

How many letters has the board written to the Ministry of Education protesting the lack of public school funding in the district and province?

How many have gone on record to suggest public school funding is being eroded by this government in favour of placing more money in the coffers of private/independent schools that can charge whatever fees they wish and can ultimately be picky about their clientele?

How many of them have protested on the lawn of the legislature? How many actually have the courage to “just say no” to this government, submit a deficit budget and stand up for what is right for this community, this district, and our students?

How many of them have actually demanded fair funding formulas for public education?

I applaud these individuals for giving of their time and energy to represent students in District 53, but I would be far more proud of them if they had the political will to make a stand for what is right for both our students and our communities.

That is why I voted for them in the first place.

And finally, the issue of school closure(s) will continue to be a recurring nightmare for this community unless and until town council creates a vision for growth.

Perhaps we already have the vision. Perhaps a town of 5,000 souls is the limit of councils’ vision for the future.

Perhaps a “no growth” philosophy is where we’re at. This would be sad if true.

The rationale behind “staying small” so we don’t have to pay extra for policing simply isn’t a good enough reason.

By functioning under this rationale, we resign ourselves to the reality that school closure will be an ongoing theme here.

We must choose to find ways to grow efficiently and effectively, not just for seniors in retirement, but for young families that believe the lifestyle here is worth living.

That is why enticing technology industries to the area would be a positive step, as Kelowna has recently decided.

With the Canadian dollar where it is at present, with reasonable tax break incentives, with the lifestyle options we can promote, and with a collaborative effort on the part of town council, Destination Osoyoos, the Osoyoos Indian Band and the school district, we can continue to provide an incredible community for families to live, work, and grow without spoiling the small city charm we so much enjoy.

It’s time to get on with a vision that will promote a future that all stakeholders will be proud to say they helped create.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to write about these very important issues that are facing this community.

Brian Rothwell

Osoyoos, B.C.