Funding formulas, declining enrollment, anger at the possible closure of Tuc-el-Nuit Elementary – all part of the drama of a public meeting in Oliver Tuesday in which only one conclusion can be drawn. The fight is not over yet.

About 100 people attended a forum at Park Drive Church sponsored by the Save Oliver Schools committee and they heard from three outside speakers, Mayor Pat Hampson, Ron Rachinski and local School District # 53 Trustee Tamela Edwards each with new information.

Edwards says “I’m learning.” “I apologize for supporting a motion to start the closure process. I want to tell you all, I live in Oliver too.” She says a motion to stop this process is on the agenda for the next regular board meeting next week.

If true the process could be slowed down, postponed or just thrown out. Edwards says the overall funding formula for schools in BC needs an overhaul and until that is done all the protection grants should continue. She says trustees don’t like closing schools and have a tough job when budgets need to be cut. She said School District #53 has cut 1.2 million dollars out of its budget already and the local school district management cost is one of the lowest in the province.

SOS Teachers’ Union President Ron Rachinski says the anger about funding cuts should be directed at Victoria where the funding formula is designed. He says he has been told that more money announcements are likely soon and that a new facilities grant has just been received  in the amount of $520 thousand which puts a new light on the present situation.

Mayor Hampson told the crowd that Town Council support the parents of students of Tuc-el-Nuit School and have instructed that a letter be written to the Ministry of Education, MLA John Slater and the local school trustees – saying the closure of an Oliver school is not in the best interests of parents, students and the area in general. He says it sends the wrong message.

The SOS committee which has done an excellent job of gathering statistic says school population has taken a dip but all future prospects in the South Okanagan indicate a rise in school population and that closing one school to overcrowd another is foolish.