I recently watched a BBC report on a Syrian Refugee camp located at the Hungarian border. During the interview of a young Mother, while she brushed her small daughters’ hair, she explained how she and her husband paid 2000 Euros/person to get out of Syria and come as far as they had. She went on to explain that they now had no more money after being kept there so long and that she would even go back to Syria if only her child could go somewhere safe and where she could grow up and get an education. Her reality does not include the assurance of an education or safety or food or a home. This I saw in sharp contrast to our reality. For the most part we all live in a home where we have food, we are not living in fear for our lives and we have a wonderful education system that is provided for us and funded through our tax base. Yet in our two communities of Oliver and Osoyoos there is this tension that is once again rearing its ugly head. Just 20 minutes away from each and there are those who are bent on perpetuating that ugly “us and them” mentality that is destructive, ineffective and debilitating to our two communities.

It was my priviledge and honor to serve our School District representing Oliver, as a School Trustee for 6 years. My last term ended in December 2014. I served with each of the School Trustees presently on the School Board with the exception of Rachel Allenbrand. I grew to respect each of them immensely for the experience, education and passion that they each brought to discussions and decisions that were made at that Board table. Each of your school Trustees commit an enormous number of hours, volunteering in your schools, reading communications and research on the education practises and issues that affect our District and others around our Province. They also attend PAC meetings to provide parents with information on what is happening in our schools, district, and province. Further they explain why and how it affects our children here and why it matters. They tirelessly advocate to our Provincial government to STOP their constant budget cuts that continue to put programs and educational opportunities for all students at risk. As Trustees we work very hard to ensure programs remain protected when faced with budget cuts. That’s where our Secretary Treasurer comes in. Linda Minnabarriet has worked hard to find savings and help to direct money where we want it most. In the classroom. Our Superintendent of Schools, Bev Young has brought incredible insight and innovative vision to the overall leadership of our District. Our district was one of the first Districts to move into a shared services plan with District 74 Gold Trail in order to save money. Our District YouLearn Facility has grown in its reputation of excellence to such an extent that the Yukon chose us to register their distance learners with. This has brought over $360,000.00 to our District over the past few years. As a School Trustee I was always proud of all that we had to offer our students here in District 53.
In recent weeks I have grown increasingly disappointed in how people are responding to the proposal to possibly close one of the Osoyoos Schools. It is one thing to be passionate about a cause/issue/person. Passion is good, it engages, it energizes, it helps creativity and it inspires learning. HOWEVER, when it is allowed such free and unchecked behaviour such as has been displayed at the recent public meeting which have been fraught with hurtful, defaming and personal attacks. That is NOT okay. That is called Bullying. To see a young person be verbally rude and totally disrespectful to a member of the Board, of whom he doesn’t even know personally and then the crowd applaud him? What is that teaching him or any other person in the room? I’m angry so I can say anything I want to whoever I want and that’s okay regardless of how mean or nasty? I certainly hope that the adults can take a step back emotionally and remember who is watching….and listening. Yes, this is possibly a big change. In our life time we will have unexpected changes. In the response we are seeing portrayed in Osoyoos what are our children learning. To challenge a Board over a possible decision is one thing. But in the end if after all our efforts the decision is still not in our favor and our school is closed, is it all a tragedy? I know it is not. We are resilient. We adapt. I believe our students would adapt fine to the change. I think sometimes we get in the way of that. Now before someone gets all excited about me having the luxury to hold this opinion when my kids are no longer in school. You’re right. However, I lived it. The whole school change, in the middle of my high school years. It was great! And yes that involved a shorter bus ride of 35 minutes than what is was before. The adults in this situation need to change the conversation to decrease the anxiety that is being reflected onto our students.

The possibility of a school closure is not new to our District. During my first term as a Trustee we went through the public consultation process just like they are now. The schools in question were Tuc El Nuit and/or OSS. The benefits of the process was it had full public engagement and through that, excellent questions were raised and ideas put forward. That is not to say that there wasn’t some ugliness as well. I will admit now, that I hid in my home for several days during the worst of it. It was awful. I was afraid to go out in my own community. Should anyone feel afraid to go out into their own community? Fortunately, when the next school year budget was announced it saved us from having to make a hard decision. It was understood then that Osoyoos would need to work on bringing some kind of industry/employment opportunities and affordable housing to its town in order to help keep their families there. As the numbers continue to dwindle in all our communities I wonder if everything that could be done has been done. I know that our School Board has done everything it could to protect funding in the classroom and I am disappointed in the finger pointing that implies anything less. It is however past time for everyone to finally step up and take our Provincial Government to task for all the relentless cutting of our Education budgets. We are $1000 less/student funding than other provinces? Why? Just because we have fewer students does not mean it costs less to equip classrooms, run transportation for students or keep old buildings running efficiently WITHOUT increasing our carbon footprint. Trustees around our province are between a rock and a hard place and all will, if they haven’t already, have to close schools. A School Board is not allowed to run a deficit budget. I recall one Board on Vancouver Island that decided to not close 1 school and try to run a deficit. The Provincial government stepped in and fired the whole board and proceeded to close 3 schools instead. It has been reported that District 67 to north of us is closing 3 schools. It is happening throughout our province.

Whatever the final decision of the Board I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they have all had many sleepless nights over this whole situation. Not only because of the magnitude of the decision they will have to make. But also because of how friends, neighbors, and their communities are treating them. This is their home too. In the end we all have to continue to live as a community. The mean and nastiness needs to stop now. Remember once again the young mother I mentioned at the beginning of my letter. Her greatest hope is to have an education for her child where it is safe. We live like we are entitled to have a school in our community. I can assure you the government does not see it that way. Education in our province is a business and it is operated as such.

As I voiced my frustration with what I was seeing, to friends and wanting to write a letter they expressed concern of putting myself in the line of fire. A legitimate concern to be sure. Yet in my heart and in my mind I could not remain silent. I needed to express my support for my colleagues and friends at this time when they are being inundated with unworthy ridicule and attacks and also a desire to see our communities whole and intact at the end of this process. Perhaps I have even added an important piece to the conversation. I hope so.
Sincerely,

Tamela Edwards