Possible school closure

Dear Board of Education School Trustees:

Re: Possible school closure in Summerland

Summerland Mayor and Council appreciate that closing a school is a complex and difficult undertaking. A decision of such magnitude requires full public engagement and acceptance, and a complete understanding of the consequences and impact on the community.

Many Summerland parents and community members find it difficult to accept that School District 67 has presented no other options besides school closures in its ‘From Challenge to Opportunity’ options. The community is demanding answers to many questions about the data presented for consideration at the public meetings, and clarification is needed on certain matters of principle and on the consultation process itself.

We therefore request School District 67 trustees refrain from taking a decision on the closure of any Summerland school at this time.

Specifically, Mayor and Council ask school trustees to:

- revise and substantiate the growth projections for Summerland schools
- reconsider the impact on the community of any school closure
- provide complete data and greater transparency in the consultation process
- apply principles in a consistent manner
- consider alternatives to school closures

When considering whether or not to close a school, the community must be given the opportunity to influence the final decision. If the outcome is a foregone conclusion, it is not real consultation.

To this end, Summerland Mayor and Council propose to School Board 67 trustees the idea of forming a joint Council-School Board select committee tasked with finding a creative approach to identify cost savings, while meeting the needs of Summerland students and the community without having to close any local public school.

We are in this together. Our constituents expect their local council and school board to work together to ensure our schools remain at the heart of our community.

A tremendous opportunity presents itself to take an innovative approach to tap local expertise and produce a level of collaboration that extends beyond the usual deliberations of a single organization.

We need to work on a collaborative basis, apply creative thinking, and come up with a made-in-Summerland solution to ensure all students in the community have equal opportunities to reach their maximum potential.

Peter F. Waterman
Mayor