Penticton city councillors were split over whether the city should be involved in a discussion about what should happen with any schools the Okanagan Skaha School District chooses to close.
On Feb. 22, the school board has scheduled a special public meeting to discuss potential alternate uses of school facilities from 7 to 9 p.m. In advance of the meeting, the board sent a letter to city council requesting their input.
Schools being considered for closure in the Penticton area are Carmi Elementary; McNicoll Park Middle; Parkway Elementary, and West Bench Elementary. In the Summerland area, Giant’s Head Elementary and Trout Creek Elementary.
Mitch Moroziuk, director of operations, pointed out that in some cases, the school fields, baseball diamonds and other facilities are booked through the city for community use.
“There are a large number of fields, depending on which ones they close,” said Moroziuk, who suggested it might be possible to subdivide the fields from the school buildings. “We would need to preserve our ability to use those fields.”
Mayor Andrew Jakubeit said the fields are operated under a joint-use policy with the school district.
“We helped, initially, to put them in, the school board maintains them, we do the booking for them, take a small admin fee and the rest of the revenue goes to the school board,” said Jakubeit.
Under current public use zoning, Moroziuk said the school could be used for a variety of public assembly purposes. After rezoning, the buildings could be used for purposes such as low-cost housing, dormitories or hostels in support of sport tourism, youth services centre, residential, retail or emergency services.
Carmi Elementary, in particular, might be suitable for future use by Interior Health, according to Moroziuk, and the land the Parkway Elementary buildings are on could be used for a playing field expansion.
“We need to leave this up to the school board and let them make their decision,” said Konanz. “I don’t want my suggestion that something could make a good ball field one day, in any way influence them closing a school.”
Coun. Campbell Watt agreed with Konanz, saying the city was too big a stakeholder, but Coun. Max Picton said the city should be involved.
“They are looking for help from the community and we are a major community partner,” said Picton. “If we do have thoughts, I think they should be provided. They are trying to make a big difficult decision.”
The motion to forward the staff comments to the school board passed 4-3, with Konanz, Watt and Coun. André Martin opposed.