Declining numbers at SouthKam doesn’t rule out new school

Oct 3, 2016 | 4:40 PM

KAMLOOPS — At one time, South Kamloops Secondary was the go-to school for many high school students on the South Shore, boasting up to 1,400 kids. 

But over the years, the high school has seen its numbers shrink, as is the case this year, down to 950 students.

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But according to School District 73, that has all been by design. With changes to the catchment areas two years ago, more students have been funneled away from SouthKam and to other South Shore high schools like Sahali and Valleyview. 

“The students at Pacific Way now go to Sahali. At one time, they did go to SouthKam Secondary School,” says Superintendent Alison Sidow. “But knowing the school was going to be very full, we diverted those students to Sahali Secondary School, where we did have room. But the problem is, Sahali is well over capacity.”

Overall, the number of high school students is up from projections by 327. For the first time in Sidow’s four years with the district, all high schools on the south shore are overcapacity.

SouthKam, despite having fewer students, is still at 107% overcapacity with less classroom space. That is thanks to the new Kamloops School of the Arts, which has now taken over the entire John Peterson campus.

“The district was able to accomodate some of those needs by bringing in four portables over the summer to have those classes set up on day 1,” says Principal of South Kamloops Secondary Walt Kirschner. “But some of the other challenges that come up would be specific lab space around our chemistry, physics and biology, for example, or computer labs, and the ability to have space for those students as we have everyone in the main building.”

“Currently, the building is housing 950 students, and it physically cannot take anymore,” says Sidow. “Previously, the students were in a different building, which is why South Kamloops Secondary, in its hayday, was at 1,400 students.” 

But the district says a decline in enrolment at SouthKam should have no baring on their wish for a brand new school, which was built in 1952 and is showing its age. 

“Certainly there’s the crowding, but it’s a very old building and passed its best-before date some time ago. It’s not built to meet the needs of modern classrooms, so that’s another reason why it needs to be replaced,” says School District 73 Board Chair Denise Harper. 

Sidow adds, “in the plan, we are requesting a building that houses 1,250 students, so we could then shift students away from the Sahali and Valleyview area into a new facility.” 

The district recently met with Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Todd Stone, who went to SouthKam and understands to need to replace the aging structure. 

But when that will happen is the big question.