The Lower Sahali Bulletin

News, information and conversation about our neighbourhood

Issue 7 | Early December, 2009

School District Ponders

Reconfiguration of Secondary Schools
Sa-Hali Secondary Students and Parents Raise Concerns and Suggest Alternatives at Public Meeting
By Gisela Ruckert

A
l arge crowd of parents and
students filled the Sa-Hali
Secondary gym for the
November 17th public meeting.
While school district staff used the
opportunity to explain the changes
recommended in the Facilities
Report, community members

http://www.flickr.com/photos/conspirator/31355171/
made certain that trustees heard
their strong opposition to the
recommendations. Recognizing
the financial challenges faced by
the district, they also put forward
an alternate proposal to cut costs.
Staff started out by explaining
the current funding crunch.
Secretary-Treasurer Kelvin Stretch
stated that starting next year, the numbers, declining enrollment is wreaking expensive.”
district will be $3 million dollars in the red havoc with district finances. “We have So, what is being proposed? The Facilities
annually unless changes are made. Since room for an additional 4,434 students,” he Report calls for all Kamloops high schools
provincial funding is based on student pointed out. “Operating surplus space is very to be changed to junior secondary schools
See “School District,” page 2

Visit us online at www.sahalionline.ca

Nature’s Fare Markets

Fresh Cheeses, Organic Meats & Wild Caught Seafood

Educated Staff Serving Your Better Health

Superior Quality Vitamins & Supplements

Local, Organic Produce & Grocery

Price Match Guarantee

www.naturesfare.com
Live Well. Live Organic.
1350 Summit Drive. Kamloops, B.C. 250.314.9560
School District
Continued from page 1
(Grades 8, 9 & 10), with the exception of
South Kamloops Secondary and Norkam,
which would become senior secondary
schools (Grades 11 & 12). John Peterson
would again become a stand-alone junior
secondary. As student numbers continue
to decline, it is expected that one junior
secondary on each side of the river could be
closed by 2013.
“We have room for an
additional 4,434 students.
Operating surplus space is
very expensive.”
If the secondary school reconfiguration
were implemented for the next school year,
it would generate approximately $792,000 in
annual savings. By putting all grade 11 and 12
students into one large school on the south
shore, classes would be fuller, reducing the
total amount of teachers needed.
Assistant Superintendent Ross Spina
pointed out that students in the upper grades
would also benefit from a wider selection of
courses and programs under the proposal.
Currently, many high schools can’t fill
specialty Grade 12 courses such as Calculus,
Civics, Literature, and Geography. As a result
of having more students in each grade, school
administrators would have greater timetabling
flexibility.
Parents, students and teachers at the
Sa-Hali meeting were unanimous in their
rejection of the proposal. Citing research
supporting the 8-12 model, parents suggested
that the benefits of the current system
outweigh the advantages offered by wider
course selections. One parent focused
on the negative effects on special needs
students. Others spoke at length of the
benefits offered by an integrated Grade 8-12
student population, especially greater athletic
opportunities, more participation in extra-
curricular activities, peer mentoring and the
strong 5 year relationships that form between
staff and students. Student Council members
spoke with passion about the positive school
culture at Sa-Hali.
In order to meet financial challenges
parents suggested leaving all high schools as
8-12 secondaries, while removing the John
Peterson building from the mix.This would
allow for the consolidation of Beattie School
of the Arts into the JP building, and the
closure of both the Pineridge and the McGill
campuses currently occupied by Beattie.
According to parent Cheryl MacDonald,
this would generate significant savings by
Visit us online at www.sahalionline.ca
closing two schools far ahead of the 2013
date suggested by the district, while also
accommodating the desire for a unified K-12
fine arts school. Another suggestion was to
generate additional revenue by substantially
increasing the number of international
students in the district.
Grade 11 student Zoe Calder felt positive
about the evening. “I was really excited – it
“I think maybe we mentioned
some points that they hadn’t
heard before, and maybe we
opened their eyes to some
new ideas”
went so well. I think maybe we mentioned
some points that they hadn’t heard before,
and maybe we opened their eyes to some
new ideas.”
Trustees will make their decision on the
secondary reconfiguration proposal at a
public board meeting on December 14, 2009.
l
The Lower Sahali Bulletin
Editor and Publisher: Arjun Singh
Published twice a month.
Send story ideas and comments to: arjun@fullworld.com
Phone: 250 377 1797
I’d like to thank all the people who helped make this issue possible!
Design by: koch ink - www.kochink.com