SOSS Board Decision

The wrecking ball will have to wait for awhile.

School District 53 board members have voted 6-1 in favour of renovating and rebuilding the South Okanagan Secondary School in Oliver.

Superintendent Juleen McElgunn says it will be awhile before any of the work begins.

"We are just now moving into the next phase. The Ministry of Education in B.C. has a series of requirements we need to fulfill. We likely won't have a project agreement with them until March 2008," says McElgunn.

She says the building feasibility study will now be completed on a higher level.

"The first phase will now go to the Ministry for approval, and they will review it and get back to us," says McElgunn.

She says the renovate/rebuild option was selected to balance the needs of students with the desires of the community.

"The major concern raised by the community was the conservation of the historical aspect of the building. We had several people attend the meeting who had graduated from the school in the early 50's," says McElgunn.