Overcrowding could force students to change schools

A Kelowna elementary school has become the victim of its own success.

More than 60 students at Casorso Elementary School, a dual-track French Immersion school that has been running beyond capacity for two years, may be forced to move to another facility next year.

There are currently 606 students crammed into a building designed for 450; the Casorso grounds have no room for further expansion.

Since the beginning of the year, trustees at School District 23 have looked at several options to alleviate the crowding and have held 13 public meetings.

Last Wednesday, they recommended creating a new French Immersion program at Dorothea Walker Elementary, thereby moving 66 students who have no enrolled siblings at Casorso Elementary School.

But parents, some of whom camped out to enroll their children at the school, are opposed to the recommendation.

Paige Bannerman does not want her son moved because resources at the new Dorothea Walker program will be insufficient.

“We volunteer, we give our time, we support the school. We’re very involved,” Bannerman said. “To suddenly be told that you, you and you are leaving, my son burst out in tears.”

The school district says they have allotted $50,000 for a French Immersion program at Dorothea Walker should trustees vote for the move.

All students affected would be from the Dorothea Walker catchment area.

The school board will vote on their own recommendation December 8th and make their decision final January 12, 2011.