Lots of talk on schools

Photo: School District 83.

North Okanagan Shuswap school trustees face a number of meetings during the next two months as they try to hammer out a budget for the next school year and deal with major changes at a number of schools.

To the relief of parents last month, the board voted not to close Armstrong Elementary or Silver Creek and Salmon Arm West elementaries at the end of June. 

Instead, the school closure consultation period was extended to April 2017.

However, trustees will be meeting parents in Sicamous to discuss plans to move to a Strong Start-to Grade 12 school at the current Eagle River Secondary for the start of the next school year in September.

Without school closures, the board must still find a way cut $1.3 million from its 2016-17 budget.

The list of meetings includes:

• Tuesday, Apr. 12 at 6 p.m. - Regular meeting of board of education
• Wednesday, Apr. 20 at 6:30 p.m. - Public consultation meeting for StrongStart to Grade 12 School at Eagle River Secondary
• Thursday, Apr. 21 at 7 p.m. - Public budget meeting at the DESC
• Monday, May 2 at 6:30 p.m. - Ranchero K-8 public consultation meeting at Ranchero Elementary
• Wednesday, May 4 at 6:30 p.m. - Silver Creek K-8 public consultation meeting at Silver Creek Elementary