Long wait over on Westside

School trustees pick schools for expansion of French immersion

A long-awaited decision on expansion of French immersion on the Westside finally came on Wednesday.

Trustees with the Central Okanagan school board voted unanimously on four motions dealing with where West Kelowna children will study French immersion.

Hudson Road Elementary School was chosen as the Grade 4 entry school, effective September 2019. Rose Valley Elementary was also in the running.

Additionally, students who enter Grade 4 next year, once they reach Grade 6, will be assigned to Glenrosa Middle School in 2021 to continue with the program.

Grade 5s and Grade 6s who are currently at George Pringle Elementary School, instead of going to KLO Middle School in Kelowna, will be assigned to Glenrosa Middle School in West Kelowna.

“I think this is great because the community has wanted a conclusion on French immersion on the Westside for some time and it’s finally here,” trustee Chris Gorman said in an interview.

“This will keep kids in West Kelowna. It doesn’t force kids and parents who want to continue their French immersion to have to go across the (Bennett) bridge to Kelowna at the middle school level. They can remain in their own community.”

Several members of the audience had contradicting viewpoints, although one parent said her estimate was “8-1 of those in attendance” against the board’s decision.

“We’ve gone over and over this. Hudson Road makes the most sense economically,” trustee Deb Butler said in reference to previous meetings held over the past year.

One suggestion that’s been batted around is to have an exclusive French immersion school, although trustees prefer a dualtracked school that integrates English and French immersion students. Superintendent Kevin Kaardal said field trips and physical education are two examples of when students can blend together.