Five day week until alternative found
Students who are in grade eight and nine this fall will be greeted in a new portable and attend classes through School District 73 (SD73) rather than the Sun Peaks Education Society (SPES), it was decided in an SD73 meeting on March 9.
The board of education met to vote on changes proposed earlier this year after the SPES asked SD73 to incorporate grades eight and nine into their programing.
The changes suggested were to take on the grades, add a portable near the high school’s location, change the name from Sun Peaks Elementary School to Sun Peaks School and move all grades to a five day school week, as Sun Peaks Elementary students currently attend school Monday to Thursday.
The suggestion of a five day week made for a passionate consultation with parents and the community earlier this year as countless people spoke or wrote in in support of all changes other than the five day week.
However after the March meeting the board accepted taking on the additional grades, adding a portable and changing the name. They also decided to keep kindergarten through grade seven on the same four day a week schedule and continue to see what could be done to accommodate the eights and nines on the same schedule.
In the meantime, said trustee Kathleen Karpuk, Sun Peaks parents should expect students to attend five days a week for the 2020-21 school year.
“We will be doing some more consultation with parents around that,” she said.
She explained an immediate change to a four day week for the grades wasn’t possible for a number of reasons. One reason is contracts with the Kamloops Thompson Teachers’ Association which limit hours worked and provincial contracts that are still being negotiated.
Karpuk said they are also trying to balance the schedule to allow students to take all of the classes they may need or want for further education.
“What we’re trying to do with the school board is meet the needs of the community, but most of all the needs of the students.”
She said keeping schools in the district on the same timetable allows rural students the option to video call into courses not offered in person at their school.
Jenny Hawes, president of SPES, thanked the board for holding consultations with the community.
“The Sun Peaks community was happy that the board of trustees listened to our considerations and focused on the students’ education. We are pleased that SD73 will fund the education for the grades eight and nine for the 2019-2020 school season and are encouraged by the board’s willingness to think outside the box and work with the community to arrive at the best result for the grades eight and nine calendar.”
No timeline has been set for future consultations but work and research are ongoing into the schedule and, long term, a brick and mortar school in Sun Peaks.
The community remains on the capital list for the school district and a committee has been considering what a permanent building would look like and exactly where it may be built.
“We have a vision of a mountain academy taking into consideration the really strong ski culture of Sun Peaks,” Karpuk said. “With racing, downhill skiing and the mountain culture all incorporated. We’re prepared to get creative up there but it has to be what the community wants.”
What did you think of this story?
Your feedback after we publish a story helps ensure we're always improving our reporting to better serve you.
