Second wind for school?

By Scott NeufeldFriday, March 23, 2007 http://www.dailycourier.ca/article_1055.php

West Vernon Elementary stands empty this week for spring break and by next year it could stand empty for much longer.But local social organizations are meeting and have come up with a plan to extend the life of the school. Annette Sharkey of the Social Planning Council for the North Okanagan said that organizers are hoping to present a proposal to the school district next month to turn the facility into a community centre.“There are all kinds of possibilities for that space, we really are excited by this,” Sharkey said.A key player in the proposal is the People Place which would provide staff for a potential day care as well as move some of their own programs into the school. Elaine Collison of the People Place said many organizations that use their building are outgrowing the limited space.“The building is full and we’ve been looking at expansion and (West Vernon) is down the road so it seems perfect,” Collison said. “We’re not sure what that might look like but we thought it might be worth pursuing.”Collison said that they have yet to look closely at the logistics of locating services in the building. But she said the People Place would rent the school from the district and the project would be able to sustain itself.

Organizers will be travelling to Salmon Arm over the next few weeks to research a former school which was turned into a day care. Collison said with West Vernon’s central location it should provide a great location for non-profits and community groups.“I think that the whole concept is what’s so appealing,” she said. “Because it’s in the downtown core it seems to make sense.”Non-profit groups will be welcome to use the facility but existing day care at the school would continue and could expand to include the Beairsto child care centre that has no home. Sharkey said transforming the school into a community centre would allow the building to continue to be a central gathering place for the neighbourhood.“This would not just be a child care centre,” she said. “We just feel that this would be a really positive solution around all the issues that have come up.”The groups that are interested in moving to the Multiplex are hoping to make a presentation at the school board’s April meeting. Sharkey said they are hoping to hear from the community on what people think of their proposal.