UPDATED: Third North Okanagan – Shuswap trustee resigns

At a meeting this week, Trustee Kelly Rowe suggested the entire North Okanagan – Shuswap School Board resign.

Now she has followed her own advice and written a resignation letter.

“There is no question the public would like to see the board resign. They’ve lost complete confidence in the board,” said Rowe.

“I thought I should stand behind what I recommended. That is to give the community the opportunity to elect a new board. Even if that were to mean that the same people run, it would just give the public more confidence that they were at least in the position to re-elect those they want to represent them.”

The school district has been dogged by controversy over where the money came from to pay for a new building.

Rowe said that controversy was the “straw that broke the camel’s back.”

At this week’s meeting the board chair apologized and the board voted to ask the province for a special adviser to come in and review the school board’s governance.

Rowe says the board has also been divided on whether or not to close schools to save money.

Earlier this year, the school board chose to delay a decision on closing Silver Creek Elementary and Armstrong Elementary till next year.

Trustees Barry Chafe and Jennifer Wilchuk have already said they will step down.

In his resignation letter Chafe cited health concerns.

“Over the past number of years, it has become evident that my vision and view for the direction of the Board has not been consistent with a majority of my fellow trustees,” wrote Chafe in a resignation letter dated March 10.

“This has caused me great distress and stress, and over time this has had a negative effect on my personal health. Unfortunately, I do not foresee any changes that will reduce this stress.

Wilchuk declined Global Okanagan’s interview request but supplied a written statement. It appears to suggest the board’s decision to defer school closures played into her decision to resign.

“I have become very disillusioned with our loss of continuity and the decisions not to move forward with consolidating schools in order to address the imminent issue of budget pressures. With our declined enrolment, I feel that now – more than ever the board should taking the necessary steps to put proper programming and supports for our students across the district first,” Wilchuk wrote.

The school board is looking at having a by-election for the seats vacated by Chafe and Wilchuk in June.