School board pledging unity
The Central Okanagan School District’s chairwoman said she doesn’t believe there’s a split on the board. Moyra Baxter was asked at the conclusion of this week’s meeting if the board is divided.
“What do you mean? We’re all different,” she cautiously replied. “I don’t know, you’d have to ask them. We don’t always vote the same way.”
When asked if there’s harmony on the board, Baxter joked, “I can’t live with anybody harmoniously.”
Baxter, who has represented Peachland for the past 21 years, has introduced two notice of motions for the April 25 meeting.
She’s asking the board to review its school closures and consolidation and regulations policy to provide clarification on student reconfiguration. She’s also asking for a review of student placement.
Reconfiguration became an issue when West Kelowna had its grades and schools shuffled in what was only 28 days.
“I voted against it,” Baxter said. “I felt there wasn’t enough time and that’s why we need to be asking more questions.”
Baxter and Deb Butler from Oyama were the lone dissenting votes on the controversial realignment.
Baxter, who left March 28’s meeting ill, was discouraged her notice of motion wasn’t referenced at that meeting.
Trustee Chris Gorman said there’s not a divide among the seven members of the board.
“We don’t have a history of block votes,” Gorman said. “Kelowna trustees acknowledge that we’re elected from different parts of the school district, but when decisions are being made, it’s not Kelowna or nothing . ... We’re seven individuals who have different backgrounds, sometimes we’re going to all agree and sometimes we won’t. It depends on issue by issue. Trustees take in all the information and make decisions on the information that’s presented.”