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Pure Poppins Avery Papworth as Bert and Jennifer Gullins as Mary Poppins open the barn door for farm animals, Matthew Simmons and Sierra Daughton, during Just For Kicks’ performance of Mary Poppins on Saturday, March 7.
Evan BuHlEr/OBSeRVeR
Process could lead to school closure Education: Silver Creek targeted for September shutdown, others may be re-organized.
By Tracy Hughes OBSeRVeR STAFF
School board trustees are considering plans that could see the closure of several elementary schools and the re-organization of others to deal with declining student enrolment and budget pressures. The long-term facility plan makes a number of recommendations for the 2015 school year, including the closure of Silver creek elementary for September 2015 and reconfiguring the grade levels at Ranchero elementary, Parkview elementary in Sicamous, Falkland elementary and north Shuswap elementary. The 10-year plan focuses on dealing with the budget impacts and meeting the needs of 5,500 students, down from 8,000 a decade ago. “We have to take a look at what this means,” says board chair Bobbi John-
son. “We have half-empty or reconfiguring will take place schools.” at the board meeting in May. The school board will not The decision on whether to be making an immediate deciproceed with the consultation sion on the recommendations, process on the recommended but instead will be deciding changes was made at Tuesday whether to initiate the 60-day evening’s school board meetcommunity consultation proing, which took place after the cess on the proposed changes. Observer’s press deadline. “nothing will be decided The five options being conBobbi Johnson right away, but we have to sidered for the 2015 school School board put these options out there as year include: part of the process. We might chair • The closure of Silver creek decide to do some, we might elementary. The report indidecide not to do any. I can’t cates the school district will say what we will do, but we have to do review redistributing the Silver creek elsomething with all these empty spaces,” ementary students to either Hillcrest or says Johnson. South Broadview elementary, while the Public meetings will be held in each of middle school-aged students would attend the affected areas to allow for community Shuswap Middle School; input. • convert Parkview elementary in SiA final decision on any school closures camous from a K-7 to K-5 school, close
This week A local makeup artist needs online votes to help her bid in an international contest. See A8. The popular Louisiana Hayride show returns to Salmon Arm on March 19-21. Check out A19.
a significant portion of Parkview elementary and create a Grade 6-8 “middle school within a school” program using existing space at eagle River Secondary; • convert Ranchero elementary from a K-7 to a K-5 school and transfer the Grade 6 and 7 students to Shuswap Middle School; • convert north Shuswap elementary from a K-7 to K-8 school; • convert Falkland elementary from a K-7 to K-8 school. The most dramatic change proposed is the closure of Silver creek elementary, which currently has 36 students, and whose enrolment over the next few years is projected to be as low as 22 students. In a report presented to the board at the last meeting, staff indicated closing the See Final decisions on page A2
Index Opinion ....................... A6 View Point .................. A7 Life & Times ............... A8 Sports................A15-A17 Arts & Events ... A19-A21 Time Out................... A22 Vol. 108, No. 10, 40 pages