As part of the Kamloops-Thompson School district’s review of catchment areas across the city, the board has voted to move ahead with the reopening of Ralph Bell Elementary in Valleyview.

It was indicated that re-opening Ralph Bell Elementary in September of 2022 would be required to alleviate pressure from both Juniper Ridge Elementary and Marion Schilling Elementary. The report states that current enrolment pressures, particularly at Juniper Ridge Elementary, and updated enrolment projections presented in the 2020-2021 Long Range Facilities Plan formed the basis of the recommendations regarding boundary changes.

Board Chair Rhonda Kershaw says it has not yet finalized the decision on catchment. “But if we do nothing with Juniper Ridge and Marion Schilling Elementary the way they stand right now, Juniper Ridge would be at 182% capacity and Marion Schilling would be at 174% (by 2030) and that’s really untenable. You run out of gym time and bathrooms and water fountains. So we have a lot to consider.”

The recommendations were made after a two month consultation period. “There has been a significant volume of information gathered. Both from staff, the staff hours that go into a project like this are tremendous, as well as the public. We had an incredible amount of input from the public to allow us to look at some different options and to consider some different things. So, there was a lot of information presented last night” said Kershaw.

There was also discussion around a new school being built in Juniper West. Kershaw says the realistic outlook for a new school up in Juniper West is not great. “We probably be a minimum of eight years. It is number four on our currently adopted capital list. Its hoping to be number three when we look at our new capital plan at out next board meeting. But still, even if we were awarded a school a year, the minimum that we would be welcoming students into a new Juniper West school would be seven to eight years and that’s a very positive outlook. That’s not necessarily the most realistic.”

And even if there was a new school built in Juniper West, Ralph Bell would still be required. Director of Facilities Art McDonald said the reason for that is if you look at those long term projections. “So the interim plan was that Ralph Bell would take some pressure off both Juniper Ridge and Marion Schilling. And long term once a new school is built in Juniper West, Ralph Bell would be used to take pressure off Marion Schilling.”

After a very lengthy meeting it was decided to defer a decision on how to populate Ralph Bell to next week. Kershaw says that will allow time for more debate and to make sure that everybody’s in their best form after three hours of meetings.

The recommendations that were made in the report are: 

1) the option presented in the report to the Board of April 12, 2021 to reduce the enrolment pressure at Juniper Ridge Elementary and Marion Schilling Elementary be implemented in September of 2022;

2) Ralph Bell Elementary be reopened as a K to 7 school in September of 2022 to accommodate these changes in catchment boundaries.

3) the students presently in grade 5 at Juniper Ridge Elementary and Marion Schilling Elementary remain in their present schools to complete their grade 7 year;

4) the Board direct staff to discuss with the KTTA the possibility of moving staff from Juniper Ridge Elementary and Marion Schilling Elementary to Ralph Bell Elementary in accordance with the requirements of the Teachers Collective Agreement;

5) the Board direct staff to refine and implement the model, provided as a supplement to this report, for transitioning students from Juniper Ridge Elementary and Marion Schilling Elementary to Ralph Bell Elementary;