(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)

NORTH OKANAGAN - The public will play a large role in the decision-making process into possible school reconfigurations and closures, says a School District 83 trustee.

Dates are set for a number of public consultation meetings in March and April which will give parents and community members a chance to give input on the recommendations of a long-term facilities report. The changes under review are proposed to go into effect for September 2015. School board trustee Debbie Evans is encouraging everyone to attend the public input sessions.

“What we hear will really have an impact on our final decision,” Evans says.

The meetings are scheduled so that none overlap, and Evans is hopeful all nine members of the board will attend each meeting.

Trustees have until a May 12 board meeting to make a decision about the proposed school changes, which include closing down Silver Creek Elementary, a school of 36 students currently.

Evans says the recommendations are not requirements, and notes they could evolve significantly by the time the board reaches a decision.

“It (decision-making) is going to be a hard time for many parents and families potentially affected, and a very hard time for us as a group of trustees,” Evans says.

The public consultation dates are:

March 31 - North Shuswap Elementary at 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. (Discussion will be on the
possibility of changing North Shuswap Elementary to a Kindergarten
to Grade 8 school from K-7.)

April 1 - Falkland Elementary at 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. - (Discussion will be on the possibility
of changing Falkland Elementary to a Kindergarten to Grade 8 school
from K-7.)

April 7 - Eagle River Secondary at 7 - 9 p.m. (Discussion will be on the possibility of
changing Parkview to a Kindergarten to Grade 5 school and moving
Grade 6-7 to Parkview for a middle school and high school all housed
at Eagle River Secondary.)

April 8 - Ranchero Elementary at 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. - (Discussion will be on the possibility
of changing Ranchero Elementary to a Kindergarten to Grade 5 school with Grade
6-7 moving to Shuswap Middle School.)

April 9 - Silver Creek Elementary at 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. - (Discussion on
the possible closure of Silver Creek Elementary.)

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

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