Today or this weekend I wanted to talk about the silliness of RDOS partners paying for a study and construction of a bike path between Trout Creek and Penticton.

THAT will have to wait.

The great Osoyoos School Closure debate is on – with recent comments and letters to ODN.

First statement I agree with Teresa and Brenda and I disagree with Brenda and Teresa. Mom would like that.

Oliver parents and taxpayers should be defending the idea that schools should not close and more importantly students should not have to be bussed to other communities.

But lets check our facts a bit. If you a student living at Road 21 – you are bussed to Oliver. If you live south of Road 22 you are bussed to Osoyoos. If you are a junior high student in OK Falls you get a ride to Oliver. Bussing goes on every school day for fairly long periods in the morning/afternoon for students in Osoyoos and Oliver, Okanagan Falls.

But it was a decision of a school board of trustees to make this recommendation come alive and divide communities that like each other and try to work together on all kinds of issues.

Yes there may be some animosities between students. I admit I feared going to Osoyoos in my youth for possible treatment on the street in the sixties. But I am old and what do I know.

I do know that all of the people I went to school with from Osoyoos – I still like and visit. The comments to ODN prove to me that truth and I hope more Osoyoos people agree. (Thanks Frank in Kelowna).

This is a complex problem and the more fact finding you do, the more people you talk to the more difficult a decision it is.

Here is my temporary decision suggestion. Put everything on hold. Collect and analyze every suggestion and report/consult with all the areas of SD 53 about the problems and possible solutions. Let the people have a say.

School Admin, School Trustees – you have proven to me you have a bad process and the process is fraught with silliness and unintended consequences.

Step back, look at this from the view of a parent, student or taxpayer. Consult with partners and civic leaders rather than targeting one community and setting up a dynamic like the one here.

The round table brings people together. Right? Invite stakeholders to a table of discussion and be prepared to listen rather making announcements and trying to spread the blame.

I don’t have all the answers but I know you have failed in this process. ( Yes I said that before )