Approximately 40 concerned parents and residents gathered at Kwaleen Elementary School on Thursday, Oct. 18 to discuss School District 27’s proposal to close the traditional school, according to a press release from the Russet Bluff Community Association and Kwaleen Parent Advisory Council.
The presentation was led by PAC council president Katie Dyck and reviewed some of the information contained in the district’s Initial Options Report, PAC secretary Kim Dressler says in the release.
The presentation also addressed some of the issues that have arisen in recent dialogue with the school board, some content of which is included on the district website under Frequently Asked Questions on the Initial Options Report.
Discussion on the report was animated and uniformly critical of the proposal to close Kwaleen elementary, the report states.
“I don’t think there’s any element of the Initial Options Report that I can support or betters the interests of my children, or any children in the district,” said Stacey Pitsos, whose sons attend Kindergarten and Grade 1 at Kwaleen. “I think the board has to completely rethink the report and come up with options that reflect the current needs of our children and our community. We won’t stand by and watch them close our school.”
The press release says that a petition will soon be circulated to community members allowing them to express their written opposition to the proposals outlined in the Initial Options Report.
The report also includes proposals in the Williams Lake area for closing Glendale and Wildwood elementary schools and moving Grade 7 students into Columneetza and Williams Lake secondary schools which would become one grades 7 to 12 high school operated on two campuses.
The public is invited to provide more input on the Initial Options Report tonight, Oct. 25 during an “Out of the Box” think tank with school trustees and staff to be held at the Columneetza Secondary gymnasium starting at 6:30 p.m.
A public meeting with school district trustees and staff will also be held at the Kwaleen gymnasium on Tuesday, Nov. 20 starting at 6:30 p.m.
Written presentations on the Initial Options Report will be accepted by the board at any time throughout the 90-day consultation process, as well as feedback through e-mail using the ThoughtStream process.
Written submissions can be mailed to Think Tank, School District No. 27, 350 N. Second Avenue, Williams Lake, B.C. V2G 1Z9.
On line go to www.sd27.bc.ca