20 for 2020 – day Seven. Instead of closing neighbourhood schools in areas with reduced enrolment, using existing space for these same endeavours should also be explored

Welcome to day number 8, in our series of “20 for 2020”.  Todays idea / suggestion is something I have believed necessary for many years now, and appears to finally be gaining some legs with the provincial government, local school districts, and municipal governing bodies.

Plain and simple, all new schools should be designed to incorporate community uses as identified by the areas they are to be located.

These could include meeting space, seniors’ drop-in centres, day care facilities, youth and adult sports, community gardens, and any number of possible uses that would benefit the communities they are located in.

Furthermore, instead of closing neighbourhood schools in areas where enrolment has been reduced -- especially in more rural areas -- using existing space for these same endeavours should also be explored.

Neighbourhood schools should be a focal point for the communities they serve, and by providing expanded uses for them, this can indeed be a reality.  That’s one reason why I am pleased to see community space options being explored in Kamloops, for the rebuilding of Parkcrest School, which was destroyed by fire last September.

Shared community-use schools ... a simple and yet practical idea that is years overdue, and which hopefully will become a ‘first thought’ for consideration by the BC education system.

And with that, it’s time once again to get outside and move another six inches of snow --- GOOD GRIEF!!

I’ll be back again tomorrow with a new instalment of “20 for 2020” – I’ll hope you’ll join me then.

PLEASE NOTE ...

... if you’re looking to check out the initial first six items, click on the following links:
#1 … those who wish to lead, should acknowledge that government must be about people.

#2 … a review of services provided to areas and regions where much of the provinces revenues are collected from.

#3 … there should be a full review of all license costs and fees, which the provincial government has imposed upon us, to see where and how they are being used

#4 ... we need a permanent fix to the problem of keeping medical practitioners in some of the more rural areas of the province

#5 ... put an immediate end to the Community Benefits Agreement

#6 ... the next BC government must be committed to sustainable resource development

#7 ... government should make treatment for chronic conditions free to residents