Central Elementary School (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

PROCESS BEGINS

Consultation to begin in October on potential closure of Merritt school

Aug 26, 2025 | 4:54 PM

KAMLOOPS — Back in the spring, the Nicola Similkameen school district began the process to investigate the possible closure of an elementary school in Merritt. That topic is set to be back on the board agenda next month.

The meeting is which is set to be held in Princeton on September 10 is generating concern from Merritt families, but Board Chair Gordon Swan noted this is just the first step, with full consultation on the topic scheduled to begin in October and by no means confirms that any school in the district will eventually close.

“We are just at the beginning of the consultation,” said Swan. “I know some people have thought why in Princeton, that happens to be where our first board meeting is this year. It’s just a regular board meeting, it’s a procedural bylaw, it by no means means that we are closing something in two weeks. The bylaw requires us to give two weeks notice to start the process.”

The school district has named two schools for potential closure, Central elementary and Collettville. The district was required to name a school as a legislative requirement to begin the process.

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With less provincial funding entering the district, the board is looking at where best to utilize their dollars, on buildings or on students and programming.

“Parents don’t have drive down to Princeton, it’s not a fait accompli, we are looking at just starting the process,” stated Swan. “We will be setting meetings starting in October with our rights holders, with our parents, with community groups, with everyone to look at what is the best steps forward. With more than 100 less children that is about $1.2 million we don’t have in our budget because we are funded on a per pupil basis.”

The move to close a school could save SD58 between $400,000 and $600,000, money that could then be reinvested into students and classrooms.

During the most recent school year, SD58 had three schools at more than 40 per cent below capacity.