Quesnel School Closures to be considered

A consulting group is recommending school closures in the Quesnel School District!

Cornerstone Planning Group presented four options to stakeholders in the community at a world cafe type meeting at Correlieu Secondary School Thursday night.

Elementary Option 1: Close Ecole Baker, Carson, Parkland Elementary Option 2: Close Red Bluff Lhtako, Kersley, Parkland Elementary Option 3: Close Carson, Kersley, Parkland
Elementary Option 4: Close Ecole Baker, Kersley, Parkland

Each one included a suggestion to close three elementary schools.

Possibly on the chopping block are Parkland, Ecole Baker, Carson, Red Bluff and Kersley.

Board Chair Tony Goulet cautions however that no decisions have been made and it’s not an all or nothing situation when it comes to the options.

He says the Board can take part of one of the recommendations or use a combination of some.

Goulet says there was also a 5th option presented last night that would look at combining Quesnel Junior School with Correlieu.

While no decisions have been made, Goulet says something has to happen and there will be at least one school closed due to declining enrollment and the fact that the Board is facing deficits year after year.

The Board is expected to make a decision in December but Goulet says the public can provide feedback on the website over the next few weeks and they will also be meeting with their education partners and community groups before then.