Parents 2, school board 0

It's back to the drawing board for School District 23's board of education.

The board has decided to go back to square one on two issues that caused emotions to boil over at Wednesday's board meeting.

At issue is realignment of catchment boundaries in Lake Country and the possible addition of a French Immersion middle school in West Kelowna.

Board chair Moira Baxter said recommendations by Supt. Hugh Gloster on both issues were defeated in favour of sober second thought.

In Lake Country, battle lines were drawn over a recommendation some thought would lead to the closure of Oyama Elementary School and an alternate plan that would see students in The Lake subdivision bused to Oyama.

That debate led to some harsh words Wednesday – some Baxter felt were inappropriate.

"There were comments made that there was collusion... but collusion to me means something illegal," said Baxter. "Comments such as the process was hijacked, and someone stood up and said it was a Machiavellian plot. There were quite a lot of comments made I felt were not appropriate."

Baxter said the board decided a consultation process that includes the entire community would be the best route to take.

She said people from all sides of the issue were in the same room just twice, and she believes they need to be together throughout the process.

"I think some of us have come to the conclusion that having staff go to the individual schools and talk to parents at that school and not talk to parents at all schools is not the right way to go.

"We know when a decision is finally made there will still be some people who are not happy."

For the foreseeable future, the status quo will remain, meaning enrolment at Davidson Road Elementary, which has been overflowing for years, will be capped. Once the cap is reached, Baxter said people enroling later will be redirected, likely to Peter Greer Elementary.

Baxter said the process was a learning experience.

"What I've learned from all this is, right from the start, say everything is on the table," said Baxter.

"We have to look at every single option and make sure everybody knows this is your opportunity to give input and let us know what you think."

The board took the same approach with the French Immersion debate, stepping back rather than ramming an unpopular decision through.

"We have put that on hold, too, with the superintendent saying it is the time to do a full, comprehensive evaluation of our French Immersion program," said Baxter.

"What are we trying to accomplish, what are our goals, how are we going to do it and do we have to look at late immersion?"

KLO is the only middle school in the district offering French Immersion, and Baxter said the school is at capacity.

The alternative was a French Immersion option on the Westside.

"Parents felt very strongly that the numbers were too few and they wanted to continue to go to KLO," said Baxter.

"We've done this (review) before, but that's OK. We're going to do this again and try to involve the entire French Immersion community from Lake Country right through to the Westside."

A decision on Lake Country catchment and French Immersion was supposed to be made in time for the 2015-2016 school year. That, said Baxter, won't happen now.

Representatives with the Central Okanagan Parents Advisory Council attended Wednesday's meeting.

Following the meeting they offered a brief statement, reading"

"The Central Okanagan Parents Advisory Council urges all parents to stay connected, stay involved, and stay active in the process. Find a way to be constructive, helpful, open to all suggestions, and put the needs of students first. A forum is needed for all parents in Lake Country to have their opinions, sentiments, and concerns heard to develop context around the issue. Innovative solutions and creative strategies can come from respectful dialogue between all parents, and we look forward to parents being given this opportunity."