Official trustee holds talks

Photo: Google Street View

Still concerned about a possible closure, parents whose children go to Armstrong Elementary School are expected to turn out in force Saturday for a meeting with official trustee Mike McKay.

The trustee, who was appointed by the province's education minister in June after the elected board was fired, embarks on a series of public meetings in the North Okanagan Shuswap school district starting this weekend.

Public pressure forced the elected board to extend a consultation process on the proposed closure of the Armstrong school and Silver Creek Elementary in Salmon Arm until April 2017.

The proposed closure of the 90-year-old brick school house is at the top of a list of parents' concerns, confirmed Jamie Schrauwen, a member of the Armstrong school's parents advisory committee.

“Everything else, cuts and stuff, is in the back of our minds,” Schrauwen said.

Flyers have been placed “all over town” to let people know about the meeting with McKay which will take place Saturday in the Pleasant Valley Secondary Theatre in Armstrong between 1-4 p.m.

The trustee has a series of meetings scheduled, including:

Saturday, Oct. 29

• Parkview Elementary 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
• Pleasant Valley Secondary (Theatre) 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

Saturday, Nov 26

• Shuswap Middle School 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
• A.L. Fortune Secondary (Theatre) 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

Schrauwen is hopeful McKay will be more open to parents' concerns.

“He seems very level headed and willing to listen which we didn't have with the (elected) board,” Schrauwen said. “And there are no secrets kept by him.”