Despite closure decision, Summerland parents hope to save school

SUMMERLAND – Less than 48 hours after school closures were announced, a group of parents says it may appeal the decision.

Trout Creek Elementary is one of three schools the Okanagan-Skaha School Board voted to close at the end of the school year.

READ MORE: <http://cbcmoney.live/news/2571193/please-dont-close-our-school-reactions-pour-in-after-penticton-summerland-school-closure-announcements/&gt%3C/a%3E;%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%E2%80%9CIt doesn’t make sense objectively to close a school that’s generating income,” says parent Meghann Pleasance.

Pleasance is referring to the small community grant the provincial government provides to certain schools based on several factors, including location and student population.

“Last year, $40,000; this year, $60,0000; next year, $78,000; and the year after, $90,000,” says Pleasance, referring to the Trout Creek grants.

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The funding was a major reason why Naramata and Kaleden elementary schools were not considered for closure.

“Our process was perhaps flawed,” says trustee Bruce Johnson, who voted against closing Trout Creek. “As people quite rightly pointed out, we took Naramata and Kaleden off the table way back in October for that very same reason. So, carrying that logic through, wouldn’t Trout Creek be off the table as well?”

But board chair Linda Van Alphen says the grant was only part of the equation.

“We took a look at Kaleden and Naramata, they are true communities. They have post office, a grocery store, they have all of those amenities,” says Van Alphen.

Van Alphen says Summerland schools had to be reconfigured because most of the town’s schools are more than 30 per cent empty. Giant’s Head Elementary is the only exception, which is full.

“We had a choice between Giant’s Head option and Trout Creek option. If we had chosen either one of them, we would’ve lost the small community grant.”

She says the grant would be lost because the schools would have a larger student population due to reconfigurations, making them ineligible for funding.

The board’s decision isn’t finalized until March 30th.

Until then, Pleasance says she and other parents are looking into pursuing different avenues to save the school.