Reporters (2) in attendance overshadowed the lack of parents and those directly related to children in schools. The meeting a community engagement session at SOSS Tuesday drew a crowd but mainly school district staff, principals, teachers, maintenance and office workers. Twenty five or so people assembled in the new cafeteria/atrium to see facts and figures and a full report on school programs and a critical look at the infrastructure.

Highlights: While school population figures showed growth in BC – this school district is declining.

SD #53 has lost about 400 students in the last 9 years and is projected to lose another 400 in the next seven years. Reasons – choice of parents to have schooling done where ever they want – losses in OK Falls to Penticton and the amount of families leaving the area to find income elsewhere. Also the area is attracting retirees to live here and the lack of affordable housing mentioned by the audience.

Superintendent Bev Young (above) say the School District has 2630 FTE students – 146 teachers and 131 support staff. In addition 15 principals, vice-principals and other excluded staff. Most of the expense is labour when looking at the budget and that funding has remained fairly constant despite the decline in school population.

Mayor Ron Hovanes was the only civic politician in attendance. He said the town has suffered some losses in the past decade like General Coach closing but with school construction, the new Mall completed and new jobs at Structurlam the community is doing what it can to bring jobs to the area. Hovanes says the new correctional center when complete could have a major effect on the future of the South Okanagan.

Mitch Van Aller talked to the condition of the district’s building and said the average age is from 33 to 47 years but a provincial rating system has declared them to be very well maintained.

Assistant Superintendent Jim Insley told the crowd that partnerships were the key to the future of education and raising standards. Insley says children are assessed very early so that the district can plan education needs and priorities. He says Oliver is well positioned with two elementary schools both with pre-school classes, day-cares, HUB centre, Communities for Kids etc that keep the district grounded on solving problems and providing interventions early in the process.

A second session is scheduled for Osoyoos next Tuesday. Engagement sessions in Keremeos and OK Falls have not been well attended.