“It’s an incredibly difficult decision,” trustee Heather Grieve said. “We really need the input of our community. This is going to be a difficult decision either way.”
Ralph Bell elementary in Valleyview was one of five Kamloops schools that closed in 2010 due to declining enrolment. With enrolment now climbing and many schools at or over capacity, the issue of reopening shuttered schools has come to the forefront.
Another long-closed school, Westsyde elementary, reopened in September 2019 after having no students in the halls since the spring of 2006. The school district spent $1 million to get Westsyde ready to host classes once again.