3 South Okanagan elementary schools to close next year

Three elementary schools in Penticton and Summerland will soon close as School District 67 (Okanagan Skaha) passed its Long-Range Facilities plan.

In a meeting held on April 15, the board of education passed the third and final readings and adopted the school closures bylaws as the district will now look to transition away from middle schools.

“The board has been considering options to address issues of enrolment and capacity utilization for some time, as the District has faced significant cost pressures that have impacted its ability to prioritize educational opportunities for students,” reads a news release.

The affected facilities include:

• Carmi Elementary will close and move to KVR Middle (to become KVR Elementary).
• Parkway Elementary will close and move to Skaha Lake Middle (to become Skaha Lake Elementary).
• Giant’s Head Elementary will close and move to Summerland Middle (to become Summerland Elementary).
• The ConnectEd Facility will close and the ConnectEd programs will be moved to a different location.

Since 2001, SD67’s enrolment has decreased overall by 2,079 students (26%), and currently, the Penticton schools are at 82% utilization and Summerland schools are at 69%, with the ministry recommending usage of 95%.

“The board is pleased to have finalized the Long-Range Facilities plan,” said board chair James Palanio in a news release.

“The decision to close the schools was not an easy one, but we believe this plan will ensure that we are making the best uses of our resources and planning for the future of the District.”

According to the three-year plan, Grade Eight students will be welcomed to secondary schools this fall, while the elementary school closures will occur in June 2025.

The District added that it will continue to engage with parents and that regular updates will be made online at this link, where more information on the closures can be found.