Columbia Shuswap Regional District directors are unhappy with the government’s funding of the education system and are calling on the province to undertake a complete review.
Directors approved a resolution asking the Union of BC Municipalities to lobby the provincial government to complete an independent review of the funding formula used to fund public education.
Extolling the virtues of Silver Creek school and its Parent Advisory Council and voicing concerns about the long hours young children would have to travel on a bus, Area D director Rene Talbot told school board chair Bobbi Johnson the regional district is taking action.
He said closing rural schools kills the community and asked how many people would be thrilled if they had kindergarten kids on a bus for 90 minutes.
“We do have a motion to go after the government for more money,” he said. “Hopefully it will pass here today and go on to UBCM (Union of British Columbia Municipalities). “Rural areas are much safer and a better learning environment.”
Three School District #83 board officials attended the April 23 CSRD meeting to present directors with the options under consideration to find the $1.8 million needed to balance their budget.
Johnson, accompanied by secretary-treasurer Sterling Olson as well as school trustees Barry Chafe from Sicamous and Michel Saab of Salmon Arm, answered questions from the board.
Johnson explained that nine of the schools in the board’s 8,000 square kilometres are within CSRD boundaries. She addressed the school board’s shortfall, continually dropping enrolment and the need to close schools or spaces within schools.
“We’ve done the first five consultations and we’re going through consultation results,” Johnson said. “We have been moving along trying to find out what we can do with schools; there’s lots of empty classrooms.”
Johnson said the school district is having challenges to maintain an education system in outlying areas and is making a concerted effort to think outside the box.
“Are there efficiencies we can find between regional districts such as watering school grounds in summer that are used by members of the public?” asked Olson as an example.
Johnson pointed out that trustees are also looking at things other ministries, such as the Ministry of Health, should be funding, instead of the education system.
CSRD chair Rhona Martin asked Johnson to leave the decisions on facility changes until next year as opposed to the current May 12 decision day.
“People are concerned the school board is in a rush to get this done,” echoed Talbot, who reiterated his concerns for Ranchero and Silver Creek schools. “It’s always the rural school that gets the axe.”
But Johnson pointed out the school board has a time limit on consultation on any issue.
“We get the report and have 60 days to do it,” she said. “It always seems rushed; people always like time to digest everything.”
Calling Silver Creek School wonderful, Johnson pointed out urban schools including Salmon Arm Elementary and South Canoe had both been closed and that extra staffing required to operate Silver Creek takes away from the broader base.
For example, she said staff members might drive all the way to outlying schools like Falkland or Silver Creek to help one student, whereas they could help several in the same timeframe if they went to a closer and more-populated school like Hillcrest.
“I agree a long bus ride is not my favourite thing to do. It may not mean closing the school,” she said, noting perhaps non-classroom spaces could be closed off. “A lot of the decline is coming from the rural schools so that is where we have to find (solutions).”
Martin pointed out that Peace River has adopted a $120 school bus fee, but the suggestion did not sit well with Johnson.
“When we looked at it the last time, 2,813 kids ride buses, most in outlying areas, so we’re hitting all the outlying areas,” she said, clearly concerned about the possibility of a student refused entry on the bus because struggling parents have not been able to pay the bill. “We run buses to get kids to school. Will we look at it? Maybe, but we have trouble collecting school fees as it is.”
Martin again made a plea for leaving school closure decisions until next year.
As she was leaving, Johnson made a request of her own.
“Have you any extra money, maybe to hire a speech pathologist?”