Okanagan Skaha Board of Education voted unanimously to initiate a 60-day public consultation process on whether to close three elementary schools and re-configure middle schools into elementary schools.
With almost no discussion, trustees voted on Jan. 31 to take the plans to the public. It isn’t known whether that will be in the form of open houses or just online.
“This is a long time coming. I believe it’s time to take it to the public,” said SD67’s longest-standing trustee Linda Van Alphen before the vote.
“I hope to hear from parents and from kids affected by the reconfiguration,” said trustee Dave Stathers.
According to Superintendent Todd Manuel, now that they have the board’s approval for public consultation, staff will take a look at what kind of public consultation will take place.
Board chair James Palanio said this is just the beginning of the process and now the board is looking for feedback, comments and questions from the public.
Parents in the audience asked questions and shared concerns.
“Will explorations and sports programs continue for Grade 6s and 7s after middle schools change to elementary?” asked one parent.
A couple of parents questioned how much savings would be had after the costs of converting the middle schools and having to add daycare space.
One Summerland parent said he wanted to support the plan but was disappointed with how little information and financials have been released.
“I really want to see the details of this plan, the guts of it before I can support it. Also, I think 60 days is a short timeline,” he added.
The district is expected to release details about the public consultation in the coming weeks, said Manual.
SD67 has created a website letsconnect.sd67.bc.ca that provides information regarding the district’s long-term facilities plan and the rationale behind the changes. The website is most importantly asking people for feedback on the plan.
The proposal is to transition to an elementary and secondary school model, eliminating middle schools that are currently in place.
Under the proposed changes, Giant’s Head Elementary School in Summerland and two Penticton schools Carmi Elementary and Parkway would be closed in the 2025-26 school year. In addition, Summerland Middle School, Kettle Valley Middle (KVR) School and Skaha Lake Middle School would become elementary schools.
If the plan is approved, the middle school transition for Grade 7s is expected to happen first in the next school year 2024-25 with current Grade 7s moving over to the high schools.
In Penticton, the elementary schools would have Kindergarten to Grade 7, while the city’s two high schools would have Grades 8 to 12.
Under this proposal, Summerland’s two elementary schools would accommodate students from Kindergarten to Grade 6, while Summerland Secondary School would house Grades 7 to 12.
Carmi Elementary students will move over to KVR in 2025 and Parkway students will move to the newly converted Skaha Lake Elementary.
ConnectEd would also be relocated in 2025-26.
Due to continued low enrolment and facilities not being full, the ‘resizing’ is necessary and estimated to save the district $1.5 million annually, according to the long-term facilities report.
In 2023/2024, Penticton Schools were 82 per cent full and in Summerland they are 69 per cent full.
The Ministry of Education’s guidance is 95 per cent. The district is projecting minimal growth of 160 to 300 kids over the next 10 years.
“Due to inefficient use of school space (capacity), the district faces annual unfunded inflationary cost pressures of over $1 million,” a report from the school district read. “These financial pressures result in a reduction in programs and services to students on a year-after-year basis.”
For those wanting the full long-term facilities plan report click here.
READ MORE: SD67 proposal to close schools and eliminate middle school model