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School District 27 faces $600,000 deficit, proposes Bridge Lake school closure

Facing a $600,000 deficit, School District 27 is proposing to close Bridge Lake Elementary School.

School District 27 is facing a $600,000 deficit.

The deficit was announced at the regular school board meeting Tuesday, Jan. 26, along with a proposal to close Bridge Lake Elementary School east of 100 Mile House.

A decision on the school closure will be made after a 90-day public consultation period.

Community and stakeholder input during the consultation period will be received by letter or e-mail to feedback@sd27.bc.ca.

Input will also be received at a public forum to be held Wednesday, March 2 starting at 6:30 p.m. at Bridge Lake Elementary School. The final decision on the closure is expected to be announced at the April 26 board meeting.

Bridge Lake elementary enrolment has dropped dramatically in the past three years: 27 students in 2013/14; 20 students in 2014/15; to six students this year. There are 13 eligible students living in the Bridge Lake catchment area. The trustee report notes that there is only 38 kilometres between the Bridge Lake and Horse Lake elementary schools.

The trustees report that extra financial support is provided by the Ministry of Education for rural schools with low enrolments but only to a certain point.

Schools with an enrolment between nine and 110 students receive $162,400. However, when enrolment declines to eight or fewer students the ministry grant is reduced to $77,325, which is less than 50 per cent of costs.

"Since 2013 the board of education has closed four schools due to district-wide school enrolment capacity and budget constraint issues and one school due to damage caused by flooding," Chair Tanya Guenther said in the report.

"It is disappointing to now be faced with considering the closure of the Bridge Lake Elementary School due to declining enrolment. We understand this may have a major impact to the community of Bridge Lake."

The trustees also gave second reading on offers received on the sale of the former Glencoe and Buffalo Creek school sites. Third and final reading on the offers will be given in February.