SD58 to host next School Board Meeting Wednesday in Merritt

The potential closure of one of Merritt’s schools will be on the agenda this week as the next Nicola-Similkameen School Board of Education (SD58) meeting takes place this Wednesday, Dec.10, at the Merritt School Board Office.

The meeting is open to the public and begins at 6:00 p.m.

Earlier this spring, it was announced that due to budget pressures and declining enrollment, the school district would need to cut $1.5 million from its budget and was considering closing Merritt Central Elementary as one potential solution to address declining enrollment and financial strain.

At its last board meeting on Nov. 12, Superintendent of Schools Courtney Lawrence provided the trustees with an update on the ongoing community consultations.

In her report, she noted that the largest attendance at the public consultations was at Central, Collettville, and Coldwater schools.

She added the most frequently asked questions during the sessions, focused on the “criteria for selecting schools, deferred maintenance expenses, financial considerations, and the effects on students and staff. ”

It has also been announced that additional community consultations are planned for January and February 2026, with a final decision regarding school closures expected in March 2026.

For those who wish to view online, this meeting will be live-streamed and recorded on YouTube (search “SD58 Board Meeting Zoom Meeting“ ) or through our Facebook page “Nicola-Similkameen School District – No. 58”.  (  www.facebook.com/SchoolDistrictNo58/  )  Please use the chat feature if you are attending virtually and have any questions during the meeting. 

Again, the meeting is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, at the Merritt School Board office, 1550 Chapman Street.

More to come…