The Kootenay Lake school district has scheduled two special meetings to finalize their facilities plan, which could result in the closure of as many as six schools.
After extensive community consultation, and following a surprise funding announcement from the provincial government, SD8 will present and vote on their final plan on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at L.V. Rogers. That will be followed by a second meeting on July 12, also at L.V. Rogers.
The district aims to address piling deferred maintenance costs and declining enrolment with the plan, which has caused significant controversy and received province-wide media attention concerning some schools potentially on the chopping block, with rural schools like Jewett and Winlaw resulting in the greatest outcry.
The only school that could close for the 2016-17 school year is Yahk. The other five — Salmo elementary, Jewett, Winlaw, Trafalgar and Creston Education Centre — would potentially shut down in the years following.
The Star’s Will Johnson will live-tweet both meetings via @kootenaygoon.