The Okanagan Skaha School District is preparing to close several facilities at the end of the school year.
Carmi Elementary School and Parkway Elementary School in Penticton, and Giant’s Head Elementary School in Summerland will all close on June 30, at the end of the school year.
The school board will lease these three facilities. Those interested in leasing the facilities are asked to email property@sd67.bc.ca by May 15.
Two other facilities, at 274 and 300 Eckhardt Ave. E. in Penticton will also be closed as of June 30.
These facilities house the ConnectEd Program. The program will relocate to the Parkway Elementary School Annex in September 2025.
The school district says the new location is a more central location for this program.
The school board is considering selling these two properties. This sale is subject to approval by the Ministry of Education and Child Care.
The school district’s Long-Range Facilities Plan was finalized in the spring of 2024. This plan proposed the closures as the school district has faced a declining enrolment. The report stated Penticton schools were at 82 per cent of capacity while Summerland schools were at 69 per cent of capacity.
The Ministry of Education and Child Care’s facilities guidelines set a target of 95 per cent.
When the school closure plan was presented, the school board said the closures were expected to result in savings of $1.5 to $2 million a year.
Public feedback was gathered before the school plan was implemented.
