New options outlined for Okanagan Skaha School District

PENTICTON — Schools in the Okanagan Skaha School District are facing under-enrollment, and the school board is considering closures.

“We have empty seats in classrooms and that equates to taking educational programs, resources and teaching staff from our children,” says school board chair Linda Van Alphen.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We have empty seats in classrooms and that equates to taking educational programs, resources and teaching staff from our children," says school board chair Linda Van Alphen.

The first new option involves Penticton Secondary and KVR Middle schools becoming a grades 9-12 two-campus secondary school.  Princess Margaret and McNicoll Park would be grades 6-8 schools, and Skaha Lake Middle School would become a grades K-5 elementary school, taking in students from Carmi, Parkway and West Bench schools, which would close.

All other elementary schools would remain K-5, and McNicoll Park would hold the French Immersion students.

The second new option involves Penticton Secondary School and KVR Middle schools becoming a grades 9-12 two-campus secondary school.

Princess Margaret and Skaha Lake Middle School would become a grades 6-8  two-campus middle school.  McNicoll Park and West Bench schools would close under this model.

The school board is also seven other proposals:

• Option 1: Close McNicoll Park Middle School
• Option 2: Close West Bench Elementary School
• Option 3: Reconfiguration of Penticton Area Schools, including Naramata and Kaleden
• Option 4: Reconfiguration of Penticton Area Schools, including 6-9 middle schools and French immersion component
• Option 5: Early French Immersion Opportunity
• Option 6: Reconfiguration of Summerland Area Schools
• Option 7: Maintain Status Quo

The school board will be making its final decision January 20, 2016.

Until then, there will be nine public meetings between now and December 10. The public is also asked to fill out an online survey, which could be found here.