Legal action after closure

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff said Friday that she was horrified by the School District 53 board's decision to close Osoyoos Secondary School.

The board voted 4-3 on the third reading of the school closure matter at its regular meeting on Wednesday night.

"It makes me wonder whether any of the things that have been sent in or the passionate pleas were considered with enough interest," she said.

This week's vote was the same as the April 6 vote to close the school.

It followed a public comment period, where parents and politicians again pleaded with the board to keep the town's only high school open.

As a result of the vote, the town is considering taking legal action.

McKortoff said that they are in the process of talking to lawyers and looking at what will work best for them.

"We are getting together the necessary documents and looking at whether this is a viable option," she said.

As for the town's recent offer of 350,000 a year for three years to the board, to ease financial concerns, nothing is happening with that, as the board turned it down.

The effort to get an independent school opened in the town is also going strong, the mayor said.

"That has taken on a life of its own," she said. "There are several people who have gotten together and come up with good ideas."

On another positive note, high school students presented the mayor and others with a banner with 200 signatures thanking them for the town's effort to keep the school open, on Thursday.

"We think that was a positive plus," said the mayor. "The passion and resolve of people in this town has been phenomenal to see."

Students from the high school are now slated to attend Southern Okanagan Secondary School in Oliver.

Board chair Marieze Tarr and Supt. Bev Young could not be immediately  reached for comment on what's next.