Parents say board made a rushed decision with grade reconfiguration

Parents within the Central Okanagan Public Schools are still reeling from Wednesday's meeting where the board approved the reconfiguration of Lake Country, Mission and Westside area schools for this year.

The changes will take effect in September 2018, instead of the originally planned grade reconfiguration of September 2019.

Many parents believe the board and trustees made a rushed decision based on little information and are placing money over the welfare of the kids.

"My overall response was that the trustees were not listening to the community that was speaking up," said Sara Neukomm, a parent and co-president of PAC for Rose Valley Elementary.

About two dozen parents attended the meeting this week. Many reacted unfavourably to the news and felt as if their concerns weren't heard.

"There were probably 20 parents and community members who spoke and had extremely valid points- they had really done their research to say why this was not a good option at this time and the trustees did not hear it," she said.

Matt Witt has two kids who attend school on the Westside. He's also frustrated, saying the board made a decision based on "inadequate and incomplete information.

"I find it very disappointing that we need to even try to convince the board how important this is to the education of our children...they are putting this first without any thought to the education of the kids."

Witt attended all three meetings and said he was frustrated each time at questions left unanswered by the board.

Kevin Kaardal, superintendent of SD23 says he and the board first heard the news of the $1-$1.8 million deficit came to him and the trustees just a few weeks ago.

"It was the implication of this restored language class size that put extra pressure on space and so we need more space now," said Kardaal.

The grade reconfiguration was planned for 2019 existing issues of overcapacity and the onset of financial concerns, the plan had to happen sooner rather than later, he says.

But that's not the way some parents see it.

"I work in business, there is always other options," said Witt.

"In my opinion, they were hung up on a dollar value," said Neukomm. "The challenge with that in speaking to other parents who happen to be accountants and financial advisors, is they (the board) are looking at a one year cost. When you are looking at making a change like this, we need to see projections of how that balances out over three or five years."

At Wednesday night's meeting, Witt proposed a seventh option to deal with the existing overcapacity issues - adding another school to the Westside.

"They are jamming all of their overcapacity problems...and consolidating them at Mount Boucherie to the point where they will have no options in five years when that school is full," explained Witt. "No room for additional portables and no other high school on the Westside where you could redirect those kids."

While that option couldn't happen overnight either, most parents simply want more time to plan and prepare for the reconfigurations.

"We are concerned about the stress to families, the anxiety of the situation for the kids, teachers and the community," she explained. "There is a lot of upheaval in the community."

As parents' frustrations mount on not feeling heard or having their questions answered, Witt says he's not about to quit.

"I am not quite willing to admit defeat yet."

He and a number of parents have been meeting since for the last few weeks and are organizing a letter-writing campaign.

"If nothing else- we will see if we can get the ministry involved, other media involved and we have got a number of different ideas to apply political pressure to see if we can get this decision at least put on hold until next year."

The reconfiguration trigger points for families in schools include the following actions:

THAT: The Board of Education approves the reconfiguration trigger point for Lake Country area schools to K to 5, 6 to 8, 9 to 12 is upon the opening of the new middle school in Lake Country in September of 2021.

THAT: The Board of Education approves the reconfiguration trigger point for Mission area schools to K to 5, 6 to 8, 9 to 12 is upon the opening of Canyon Falls Middle School in 2019.

THAT: The Board of Education approves the reconfiguration trigger point for Westside area schools to K to 5, 6 to 8, 9 to 12 is upon the staged reconfiguration K to 5, 6 to 8 (Constable Neil Bruce Middle School), 6 to 9 (Glenrosa Middle School) and 9 to 12, to be implemented in September of 2018.

KelownaNow is continuing the story and reaching out to representatives from the board and from other parents.

Please stay tuned.