By Tom Mark

Smaller School Board Recommended For North Okanagan-Shuswap

Dec 20, 2017 | 10:14 AM

BC’s Education Minister is being encouraged to consider a 5 member school board for the North Okanagan-Shuswap School District in next fall’s election.

Official trustee Mike McKay felt proportional representation doesn’t work because that would give Salmon Arm too many trustees.

After much consultation, it was felt a ward system would work better

“The real emphasis being that all trustees may be elected from wards but they’re elected to represent the interests and trhe needs of the entire district and to provide the good governance around that.”

As far as the wards go, their structure was set up after much study.

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“The North Shuswap/Sorrento and Carlin as one of the regions. Salmon Arm being another region. Salmon Arm would have two trustees. All of the others would have one. So North Okanagan Shuswap/Sorrento/Carlin with one. Armstrong/ Spallumcheen/Falkland/Silver Creek/Ranchero with one. And Sicamous/Malakwa/Enderby and Grindrod with one.”

The former board, before it was fired, was comprised of 9 members.

McKay says his consultations found the smaller board was an easier solution, but admits it could change later.

“After a five member board has been in place for a period of time, if that board said gee the scope of this work is too large, we need to have a different number, we need to have seven. They certainly would be able to make that request to the minister.”

Minister Rob Fleming is expected to make a decision early in the new year.

McKay’s report is available on the school district website.

by Tom Mark