In the coming weeks, the Sea to Sky No. 48 school board will decide two issues that could have a significant impact on local education.
The fate of Stawamus Elementary School will be decided by the board on March 11.
Lisa McCullough, superintendent of schools, announced results of a survey on the four options the board is considering for the school at a special school board meeting held Feb. 4.
The results showed maintaining current use of the school and trying to grow enrolment was the most desired option (36 percent of respondents), followed by shared use of the building (23 percent) and repurposing the building for another use (18 percent), while closing the school garnered the lowest number of votes (nine per cent).
The board received some suggestions for shared use of the school, and the former ones will be reviewed at the Feb. 25 special meeting, McCullough said.
Surveys were sent out through all schools, made available on school websites and were available for print submissions at the school board office from Jan. 20 to Feb. 4. The board received 215 responses in total.
The aging school has faced declining enrolment for years. This year there are only 76 students total; the capacity of the school is 182.
The public will have a final chance to speak as registered delegations at a Feb. 25 special public board meeting.
There were no delegations that spoke to the issue at the special meeting Feb. 4. Another opportunity to speak will be Wednesday, Feb. 11.
New program proposed
A decision on the “Cultural Journeys” program of choice is expected at the school board meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 11.
“Squamish Nation had primary responsibility for writing this proposal,” McCullough said.
She said the proposed program aims to revitalize the Squamish Nation language – there are currently fewer than 10 fluent speakers in Squamish – and offer land-based learning for students from Kindergarten to Grade 6.
It is “a place-based learning program that emphasizes the reinvigoration of their culture and their language,” McCullough said.
There will be a focus on the outdoors, but it will also have a rigorous academic component, McCullough said.
The program is separate from Stawamus Elementary or any other specific site. The board will decide on whether or not to implement the program, and a specific site will be decided later, McCullough said.
The program is a result of collaboration between the Squamish Nation, the Sea to Sky school district and the parents’ advisory council at Stawamus.
The permanent name of the program is being considered with elders and will be decided on at a later date.
For more information go to, sd48seatosky.org.
