Hope yet for schools

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

It may be the eleventh hour but School District 67 trustees have voted to try to save two schools slated for closure.

At an early morning meeting Friday, the board voted unanimously to apply for new Rural Education Enhancement Funding for Trout Creek and West Bench elementary schools.

The deadline for those two separate applications was today, June 24.

"I am pretty enthusiastic about it," said chair Linda Van Alphen. "We weren't hearing negative push back from the ministry. They have just been there to clarify the material."

She added the situation was tricky with school closures due on June 30, the budget due the same day and the ministry announcement on the matter also due June 30.

Since the funding was announced last week by Premier Christy Clark, the board has been working with staff and parents to ready the applications.

For example in the application for Trout Creek, there was discussion about the split of the highway and the difficulty of walking.

For West Bench, there was talk about the channel, the highway and the Kettle Valley ravine, said secretary-treasurer Bonnie Roller-Routley.

Examples of specific concerns expressed by parents, as well as petitions that were filed, have been included in the applications.

Roller-Routley expressed hope the applications would be ready and on their way by 4 p.m. this afternoon.

Parents in attendance said they were pleased with the board's decision to apply for the funding.

"Throughout the process they knew and understand the value of rural schools, so it's a relief that the ministry has validated the importance of rural schools which, if it is successful, will allow the trustees to do what they always wanted which is to keep the rural schools open, which is best for the kids," said Heather Allen, PAC co-chair for West Bench.

Lora Nield, a Trout Creek parent, said she was not surprised because it was the right thing to do.

The next meeting on the matter will take place June 30 at 3 p.m.