The Rocky Mountain School District no.6 (SD6) trustees voted in Invermere last night on the Draft Long Term Facility Plan. The plan was first presented last fall and included a proposal to change school configuration in Kimberley from its current two K to 3 and one 4 to 7 middle school, to three K to 7 schools.
Originally, the plan was to go ahead with the changes for the next school year, but after hearing feedback from public in the fall, a revised plan has been drafted. The changes are now planned for the 2018/2019 school year.
SD6 Trustee, Mac Campbell said the vote was 6-3 to pass a motion to retain the three grade 4-7 middle schools in the Golden, Windermere, and Kimberley zones.
“The Kimberley zone gives direction to the geographic area for allocating students as was in the report. There will be a lot of work done on the final report, and a substantial change,” said Campbell.
This means that there will be catchment areas implemented for each zone, and the Kimberley schools will remain with Lindsay Park and Marysville at grades K-3, McKim 4-7, and Selkirk Secondary 8-12, as was requested by parents and community members in previous meetings as well as through a petition.
With regards to the catchment areas in Kimberley, a line will be drawn at McKenzie Street in Blarchmont. All K to 3 students on one side of the line will attend Marysville Elementary, and all of the K to 3 students on the other side of the line will attend Lindsay Park.
“I tried to keep everyone focused on retaining these three 4-7 middle schools, which was successful but not a slam dunk for Kimberley,” said Campbell. “At this point, the way the motion for the k-7 schools read, it has no affect on the zones.”
Campbell also explained that there is a need for re-development of Nicholson Elementary School in Golden, which could mean a potential school closure with the three middle schools being retained.
“It is well within the bussing zones for the 4-7 school [however],” said Campbell.
Superintendent of SD6, Paul Carriere commented, “this was a difficult process for the Board and required much effort to carefully consider district demographics, facility condition and capacities, bus routes and costs, organizational implications of potential change, and the large volume of community input that was received. The Board extends it appreciation to the staff and community for their involvement in the process.”
The minutes will soon be published online on the SD6 website with more detailed information on the outcome.