If the current board of trustees with School District 53, shown at the recent community input meeting at Osoyoos Secondary School, are unwilling to make the tough decisions to balance the books, while keeping all schools open, they should be replaced with a new board and administrator willing to make those tough calls, says Osoyoos resident J. H. Bunds. (Richard McGuire photo)
Dear Editor:
I’m sorry that I’m only sending this letter now as it should have been sent immediately after the community input meeting held inside the gymnasium at Osoyoos Secondary School on Feb. 9.
I didn’t write the letter sooner as I have been away since that meeting.
There are several things I came away with from the meeting that I think our school board should take note to ensure future meetings will be more productive and empathetic for the local trustees involved.
First, if there is to be a time limit for those wishing to speak – two minutes is unreasonable, by the way – then keep speakers to that time limit.
As they often do at all-candidates meetings during election campaigns, perhaps someone could be available to ring a bell signaling the designated time has elapsed and he or she will soon be cut off.
Secondly, written submissions should be welcomed, but not be read verbatim.
A very short summary (time limit) is all that should be allowed to accompany a written submission.
Thirdly, I know that the subject of closing their school is extremely important to the students, but how about encouraging them to have fewer (better) submissions.
The Student Council president could speak on behalf of all students at the school and perhaps someone could be selected to also speak on behalf of the sports teams.
I know I, and many others, found the submissions on Feb. 9 were very repetitious and generally negative, which brings me to my last suggestion.
The elected board of trustees should be “running” the meeting, not their employees.
It would be prudent for the board to call on the board administrators to give a presentation or two. They could also be brought in to provide answers to some specifics, but if the elected board members truly believe in what they are recommending (closing Osoyoos schools) then those members must be able to speak to their recommendations.
Finally, I would like to apologize to chair Marieze Tarr and the board of trustees for the less-than-respectful remarks that were yelled at them on several occasions.
Those were neither helpful nor desired.
Everyone in the audience that night made it very clear they do not want our schools in Osoyoos closed, but let’s concentrate on helping our board with positive and helpful suggestions, instead of just moaning they “haven’t done their job.”
Thank you.
David Smith
Osoyoos, B.C.
