Kamloops This Week May 12, 2021

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kamloopsthisweek.com | kamloopsthisweek |

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021 | Volume 34 No. 19

kamthisweek

#YKASTRONG

Parents have issues with boundary changes SEAN BRADY

STAFF REPORTER

sbrady@kamloopsthisweek.com

CONTRACT CONCERNS, VENDOR QUESTIONS AND DONATIONS TO A RELIGIOUS GROUP KTW’s series of stories in February on spending at the Thompson-Nicola Regional District led to policy changes, an independent third-party fiscal review and an RCMP criminal investigation. In today’s edition of Kamloops This Week, we look at the awarding of a janitorial contract that led to concerns from inside the TNRD and ask why taxpayer funds were used to make donations to a religious organization.

STORIES, PAGES A12-A15

School District 73 has held its final consultation meeting addressing proposed catchment changes for Kamloops schools. At issue are four potential catchment boundary changes and the possible reopening of Ralph Bell elementary in Valleyview to deal with overcrowding. On May 5, catchment changes were discussed regarding Juniper Ridge elementary, Marion Schilling elementary and the re-opening of Ralph Bell, which the district shuttered in 2010, but still owns. Among the concerns voiced by those who will be affected are the division of the Juniper Ridge neighbourhood into two different catchment areas, concerns over criminal activity in the vicinity of the to-bereopened Ralph Bell and the mental health and wellbeing of students.

Currently, Juniper Ridge elementary now catches all students living in Juniper Ridge, and Marion Schilling elementary catches all students in Valleyview and Rose Hill. The proposed catchment area for Ralph Bell elementary would capture all students in Rose Hill, the western end of Juniper Ridge and the western tip of Valleyview. If Ralph Bell is reopened, it would be done in September 2022 and require a one-time capital cost of $759,000 in upgrades. In addition, another $464,000 in annual operating costs is projected to cover the cost of various staffing positions and bussing some former Juniper Ridge elementary students to Ralph Bell. If Ralph Bell were to reopen, catchment area changes would see 129 of the 513 students now at Juniper Ridge being bussed to Ralph Bell. The reopening would also see 82 of the 317

kids now attending Marion Schilling switch to Ralph Bell, some by bus, others walking/being driven to school. Ralph Bell is at 1764 Valleyview Dr., 5.3 kilometres from Juniper Ridge (2540 Qu’Appelle Blvd) and 2.4 kilometres from Marion Schilling (2200 Park Dr.). Parents of school-aged children who spoke at the May 5 meeting were particularly concerned about dividing Juniper Ridge into multiple catchment areas and asked that the district leave the neighbourhood intact. Data presented by district staff shows overcrowding in a number of Kamloops schools that is expected to get worse in the next 10 years. SD73 superintendent Terry Sullivan said making no changes now may ease immediate concerns of people, but, “I don’t think it’s going to satisfy people five years from now.”

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Kamloops This Week May 12, 2021 by KamloopsThisWeek - Issuu