Upcoming SD58 meeting to discuss school closures draws criticism over location

An upcoming meeting notice of the Nicola-Similkimeen School District 58 (SD58) has raised the ire of concerned parents in the Nicola Valley.

The online outrage began on Monday after SD58 posted notice of it’s September 10 meeting, in Princeton, where a motion to initiate the process to consider the closure of either Merritt Central Elementary School or Collettville Elementary school.

According to the social media post, the motion “pertains solely to considering closing a school facility, not a program or programs.”

The motion is considered the first step in the school closure process.

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.

“It’s not that we are angry that they have to close a school in the area, we get that,” said one parent who posted on a local social media thread. “It’s the fact that parents and citizens found out on social media, and the fact that the meeting to discuss the future of Merritt schools is happening in Princeton and not Merritt is wrong.”

“I am shocked that nobody at the school board could have guessed this meeting taking place in Princeton might just be bad optics, no matter what stage of the process this is,” said Merritt resident Marius Auer. “When a decision could affect families in Merritt so directly, the discussion belongs in Merritt.”

“A Zoom or Facebook livestream is not a replacement for showing up in person, because it puts a screen between the board and the community,” he added. “What would build trust is starting the process with an open hall in Merritt, giving people the floor before motions are made. Saying ‘this is just the start, we will be involving you’ rings hollow when the kickoff already excludes the very community most affected.”

SD58 chair Gordon Swan took to social media to defend the board’s announcement.

“We (SD58) will have public meetings in Merritt as we discuss options. We will meet with PACs and we will meet with First Nations. We will do surveys, and have an email address for feedback,” said Swan. “The notice we have put out is a legal requirement of the Ministry of Education so that we can start the conversation around a potential closure and what that might look like.”

Meanwhile, a new online campaign has begun asking concerned citizen to reach out to school board official to voice their displeasure and to hold the September 10 Meeting in Merritt rather than Princeton as previously announced.

 

As it stands now the September 10 meeting will be held at the Princeton Secondary School boardroom.  Anyone interesting in addressing the board at the meeting is asked to contact the Secretary Treasurer Mark Friesen at mfriesen@sd58.bc.ca by September 3, and include a written submission about your presentation.

More to come…