It is almost decision time on Stawamus Elementary.
The Sea to Sky board of education held the last public meeting on the fate of the school at Eagle Eye Theatre on Feb. 25.
About 20 concerned parents and staff were on hand as trustees debated the options for consideration, which will be brought forward at the board meeting March 11, when the decision on the fate of the school will be made.
According to school board officials, the four options being considered are:
• Discontinue Stawamus Elementary School in its current form and grow the enrolment by offering two programs of choice: Cultural Journeys and the Inquiry Hub.
• Discontinue Stawamus Elementary School and share the site between the Cultural Journeys program and the relocated school board office, which would allow the board to consider selling the current downtown Squamish school board office site.
• Close Stawamus Elementary School and list the site for sale.
• Discontinue Stawamus Elementary School in its current instructional configuration and share the site between the Cultural Journeys program and Squamish Montessori School (SMS) for a five-year renewable lease for six classrooms.
“The board was able to select the four options they wish to deliberate and staff can now proceed with analysis so that trustees will have the information they need to make a final decision on March 11,” board Chair Rick Price said by email.
It currently costs the school district about $300,000 per year to operate Stawamus Elementary. Projected building maintenance requirements for the aging school are $600,000 over 10 years, according to the school district.
While enrolment has dramatically increased at most Squamish elementary schools, Stawamus has faced a drastic decline in enrolment over the past several years.
The school is currently operating at 42 per cent capacity, according to director of facilities and services Rick Hume. While the Kindergarten to Grade 6 school has a capacity of 182, it has only 76 pupils in total enrolled this year.
