Merritt Central named as SD58 begins lengthy process to evaluate school closures amid budget pressures

Much like school districts across the province, the Nicola-Similkameen Board of Education (SD58) has been forced to make some hard decisions, as it needs to subtract $1.5 million from its budget for the upcoming school year.

With declining enrollment across the district, the board is also now starting the process to investigate the possibility of closing one of the five elementary schools in Merritt. While there was concern over the potential for job losses, none are expected as the district was able to bring its deficit down from the original $2.5 million figure.

“Luckily right now we don’t believe any teachers will have to be laid off,” SD58 Board Chair Gordon Swan said. “We have talked about reassignments, but through retirement and resignations we are able to do that. So we feel in a bad situation good about that we’ve been able to retain our staff.”

A bold idea put forth by the district is looking at closure of Merritt’s oldest school, Merritt Central Elementary. That will require a 12 month consultation and investigative period, though there is no guarantee that Merritt Central will be closed following that period.

“The oldest part of that school was built in 1936 and we did talk to the Ministry when we had the flood about what was the potential to raise that school up four meters and actually build a new school that was up under the flood plain,” Swan said. “That was going to cost $43 million.”

The move to close a school could save SD58 between $400,000 and $600,000, money that could then be reinvested into students and classrooms.

“That is a hard decision, but do we want a building or do we want to make sure we are keeping high quality teachers and having those additional needs for students with diverse learning needs? That could potentially be the $400,000-$600,000 that we can reinvest into kids,” added Swan.

Despite the challenges, Merritt Central is home to the most students in the district, however there are also three schools in the city that are at more than 40 per cent below capacity.

“It’s definitely nerve-wracking, it sucks. I understand where they are coming from and they want to save money but I think cutting schools back is not the way to do it,” said Chantelle Cousins, who has a daughter attending Merritt Central.

“Just not a fun time right now for parents. What are they going to do, the system is failing us again and our kids,” added Dee-Anne Hurrell, who has grandkids in the district.

With the provincial funding model being called into question in areas across B.C., Merritt parents are also looking to the Ministry for proper supports.

“If we don’t support our children we are all going to pay the price in 20 years. As a parent I’m saying ‘please Minister of Education speak up and make a difference,’ because people like us make a difference,” said Ewa Olquin Resenoliz, an SD58 Strong Start Teacher and parent.

The process to close a school is long and complex with multiple consultation opportunities required over the next 12 months.

“Right now, it’s the potential of looking at it, and we had to name a school, that was a requirement, and we picked Central because its our oldest building,” Swan said. “And we will go down that road over the next year and see where we come out at the other end.”

The closing of Central could also lead to better odds of getting provincial support for capital projects at other schools, including Bench Elementary.

“We have had for Bench because it’s over capacity, asking for capital for that, and the ministry comes back and says you realize that those three school you have 40 per cent room in them,” said Swan.

“If we want to do work in that school, it’s not lost on the ministry that we have capacity in our other schools. And so we have to deal with that fiscal reality with the ministry as well.”