On May 5, catchment changes were discussed regarding Juniper Ridge elementary, Marion Schilling elementary and the re-opening of Ralph Bell, which the district shuttered in 2010, but still owns. Among the concerns voiced by those who will be affected are the division of the Juniper Ridge neighbourhood into two different catchment areas, concerns over criminal activity in the vicinity of the to-be-reopened Ralph Bell and the mental health and well-being of students. Currently, Juniper Ridge elementary currently catches all students living in Juniper Ridge, and Marion Schilling elementary catches all students in Valleyview and Rose Hill. The proposed catchment area for Ralph Bell elementary would capture all students in Rose Hill, the western end of Juniper Ridge and the western tip of Valleyview.
Help Us Help Kamloops. Support Local Media.
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Kamloops This Week is now soliciting donations from readers. This program is designed to support our local journalism in a time where our advertisers are unable to due to their own economic constraints. Kamloops This Week has always been a free product and will continue to be free. This is a means for those who can afford to support local media to help ensure those who can’t afford to can get access to trusted local information. You can make a one-time or a monthly donation of any amount and cancel at any time .
The public consultation period will continue until June 21. To ease pressure from increasing enrolment, SD73 is considering re-opening Ralph Bell elementary, which was shuttered in 2010 when the district reconfigured its schools. The move would result in a change to catchment areas for Juniper Ridge elementary and Marion Schilling elementary. Currently, Juniper Ridge elementary currently catches all students living in Juniper Ridge, and Marion Schilling elementary catches all students in Valleyview and Rose Hill. The proposed catchment area for Ralph Bell elementary would capture all students in Rose Hill, the western end of Juniper Ridge and the western tip of Valleyview.
“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.
One notable new expense is the permanent addition of day-shift custodial staff who were initially added due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We ve only added in the things the board and senior administration board have deemed essential, SD73 finance director Trina Cassidy said. During the draft budget meeting, held last Thursday evening (April 8), SD73 superintendent Terry Sullivan remarked that he has held his position through three major viruses, including SARS in 2003, H1N1 in 2012 and now COVID-19. It s always challenging to try to peer into the future, Sullivan said. I think we must start to look beyond this year and be prepared for other viruses that my experiences and instincts tell me might come our way.