Wednesday Sept. 16, 2015 www.saobserver.net $1.25 GST INCLUDED
Students forced to transfer Silver Creek: Parents frustrated after working to increase enrolment.
By Tracy Hughes OBSERVER STAFF
When Silver Creek Elementary School narrowly escaped closure last May, school trustees told parents to grow the school’s student population in order to keep the rural school viable in the future. And parents were successful – adding 17 new students to the school’s population this year. But the parents are left feeling their efforts have been negated by the school district, which is now forcing the transfer of Silver Creek’s six Grade 6 and 7 students to Shuswap Middle School. “They were the ones who encouraged us to have the school grow, and we worked hard to up those numbers, and now the school district says, ‘Sorry, there’s not enough money for another teacher.’ We can’t grow the school if they keep forcing our kids out,” says parent advisory council member Kristie Clark. She is especially upset because, after working to increase enrolment, her son is one of the students being forced elsewhere. “My son was so excited because he feels so comfortable at Silver Creek and then on the second day we hear this news. He was in tears,” says Clark. Due to class-size limits, another teacher would be required to cover the 53 students wanting to attend Silver Creek. Citing the low numbers of students who would be in that teacher’s class and the need to balance the school district budget, the school district has instead opted to transfer the older students out. This leaves one teacher for the kindergarten-Grade 1 class and another to teach the Grade 2/3/4/5 class. “The real issue in making these difficult decisions is providing equity of service to students around the district,” says school superintendent Glenn Borthistle. “If we were to add a third division to Silver Creek, the ratio of teacher to student would be far less than at other schools.” Borthistle notes this is a process that happens See Appeal on page A3
EVAN BUHLER/OBSERVER
Happy dance: Garret Thompson and Josie Larson, from Just for Kicks, entertain people along the pa-
rade route for the annual Salmon Arm Fair parade through downtown. See more images on A11 and A13.
It’s all fun at the fair By Barb Brouwer OBSERVER STAFF
Numbers were down, but spirits are high. Ticket sales to the annual Salmon Arm Fair were down by about 800, but there were more than 326 new exhibitors. Star MacGregor, fair committee chair, said all the exhibitors, young or old, pay an exhibitor’s fee that gives them entry to the fair on all three days and those totals are kept separate from ticket revenue. “I was very pleased we had new exhibitors and pleased that families with two, four or more kids were exhibiting,” she says. “It’s wonderful to see younger people entering with their families,
This week There’s a battle going on between beavers and trail lovers. Find out what’s up on A8. It was an emotional start for the ’Backs in their home opener against Penticton. See A15.
starting the tradition.” MacGregor was also thrilled with the numbers and dedication of the fair volunteers, which she says are countless, because each division has its own volunteers. “We probably had 75 people just on the gates but we can’t give a clear number,” she said. “We’re asking them (conveners) to give us a report of how many volunteer hours they have put in.” MacGregor heard many positive comments about the parade and Shooting Star Midway and said the worst incident at the fair was at the first aid stations where Band-Aids were handed out for blisters. MacGregor offered kudos
EVAN BUHLER/OBSERVER
Night view: Hundreds took the chance to play games at the Shooting Star midway. to this year’s fair co-ordinator, Debbie Evans, who brought in some new familyfriendly attractions such as a straw maze, gold panning and an opportunity for little
folks to hold live chicks. “We think we had a successful fair.” See Organizers on page A2
Index Opinion ....................... A6 View Point .................. A7 Life & Times ............. A11 Sports................A15-A17 Time Out....................A18 Arts & Events ... A19-A21 Vol. 108, No. 37, 44 pages