A well-coordinated protest effort by Wynndel residents to prevent the quick sale of their school and property appears to be succeeding.

Two letters, one from School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake) and the other from the Ministry of Education, indicate that a sale is not imminent and that consultation regarding any sale of the former Wynndel Elementary School will and must be undertaken.

In an email letter to a member of the ad hoc School Property for Wynndel Committee, formed when residents learned that an offer to purchase the property was being entertained by the school board, assistant deputy education minister Keith Miller said there was a clear process that had to be followed.

“The board would be expected to broadly consult with its education and community partners regarding the alternative community use for this property,” he wrote.

Perhaps more importantly, Miller said that the province is not enthusiastic about the sale of public school properties, especially for purposes other than education.

“It is the government’s strong belief that the publicly-funded school lands acquired by boards of education be retained for public use,” he said. Under government policy, he added, “boards of education may no longer permanently dispose of school property for non-educational use, except under exceptional circumstances.” Ministry of Education approval must be sought before any sale can take place.

Representatives of the Wynndel community who appealed to a school board meeting in Crawford Bay earlier this month made a case that they had to be consulted in the disposition of the property. Miller concurred.

“The requirement for a board of education to undertake broad consultation prior to seeking ministerial approval for property disposition is stated in the ministry’s school building closure and disposal policy.”

A letter written on January 22 and signed by school district secretary-treasurer Monica Schulte said the board had sought legal advice.

“It has been determined that the board has followed both the ministerial order M193/08 and board policy,” she wrote. “However, as requested by the community, the board has now decided to continue public consultation regarding use of the Wynndel school building and property before entertaining any further offers for sale.”

“Where I hope we are at today is that the school board will hold a public meeting in Wynndel sometime in March,” Jeanne Kay Guelke, who spoke to the school board on behalf of the ad hoc group, said yesterday. “It needs to be at a time when most residents aren’t working, and we’ve provided a selection of dates that we hope will work.

“We hope the school board will hear the voices of the residents of Wynndel. No doubt some specific suggestions for the future of the property will be coming forward at that time.”

Comments