The school district hopes to speak with the public over the potential closure of Stuart Wood School in the near future.

(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

KAMLOOPS — The closure of Stuart Wood School and relocation of staff and students up the hill is still one of several boundary and enrolment changes under consideration by the school district.

In November School District 73 released a report outlining several changes it was looking at over the next few years to help alleviate enrolment stress at several schools. Realignment of secondary school catchment areas could affect several elementary schools in the district but the biggest cause for alarm so far has been the possibility of moving staff and students to the Beattie School of Arts Campus on McGill Road and closing down the aging Stuart Wood building.

The report was circulated to school communities affected and people were given until the end of the year to weigh in. A number of responses came in but the biggest concern by far was over Stuart Wood School.

Among the dismayed residents and community groups was Kim Hartnell, who was shocked over the potential closure.

“I am shocked and disappointed to hear of the potential closure of Stuart Wood School.... In my opinion the school board is taking away the rights of the downtown residents who would like to attend their neighbourhood school,” Hartnell said in a letter to the district. “I would not be as outraged as I am had the board said that the students of Stuart Wood Elementary were to be moved to Lloyd George Elementary as this school is still located in downtown Kamloops and therefore accessible.”

The board will look at the staff recommendations on Monday. Included in the latest report is to have students from Pacific Way Elementary go to Sa-Hali Secondary effective September 2015, consolidate South Kamloops Secondary into one building effective September 2016, closely monitor Westsyde and Dallas school over the next several years and establish a committee to study the feasibility of future expansion of the French Immersion program.

Expansion of the French Immersion program was the only point to receive several letters in support.

Staff is also recommending that a date be set for a public meeting on the possible consolidation of Beattie School of the Arts into the 9 Avenue building and relocating staff and students to the McGill Road campus upon closure of Stuart Wood School.

To contact a reporter for this story, email jstahn@infotelnews.ca, call (250)819-3723 or tweet @JennStahn.

News from © iNFOnews, 2014