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South Okanagan Photos

MLA enters school closure fray – special report

MLA enters school closure fray

Linda Larson used a minor funding announcement Tuesday to urge the Okanagan-Similkameen school board to renew efforts to keep Osoyoos Secondary School open despite its decision last month to close it at the of June.

The Boundary-Similkameen MLA, who has been staying out of the school-closure controversy because, “I have been respectful of our local school board and tried to avoid interfering with their decisions,” urged the board to use the $118,102 to help keep the high school open.

“I’m looking forward to working with the school district, school board, parents and the town of Osoyoos to find a way to save Osoyoos Secondary School,” Larson told a press conference outside the town hall.

“Between the $118,102 in money that I have announced today, and other possibilities, such as using the property to generate other revenue, I believe we have a viable plan to keep (OSS) open.”

Larson said that over the past few months “I have been working with the Minister of Education on ways to save this school and am very pleased with the new funding to help this goal that we have announced today.”

The $118,102 is the local district’s share of $25 million in “administrative savings” announced Tuesday for all school districts across the province.

Education Minister Mike Bernier said in a news release the districts are free to use the funds in any way they choose.

School board chair Marieze Tarr would not speculate on whether the funds announced would be sufficient for the board to reconsider its decision to close OSS. But she said, “$118,000 is not a lot.”

Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff said the town council had hoped the announcement would be for more money. She said she isn’t sure what happens next, but that the “ball is in the (school board’s) court.”

Independent school committee chair Brenda Dorosz said the work toward establishing an alternative high school in Osoyoos outside the public system will continue.
NDP education critic Rob Fleming described the funds as “a drop in the bucket. … By failing to come to the table with something significant that would keep schools open in communities where people live, far too many kids in BC will begin the school year in September sitting on a bus going to school in the next town.”