West Bench School a hub of the community

Candidates seeking a spot on the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen in Area F (West Bench, Faulder, Okanagan Lake West) all agree West Bench School is the hub of the community.

The issue of shared facilities between the RDOS and school district was among those addressed at a two-hour forum, Thursday at West Bench Elementary School.

“I always thought it was crazy that we have libraries separate from schools. We should be using facilities for all groups,” Leah Schulting said. “It’s the only gathering spot that we have on the West Bench during the winter months and it should be used on weekends and every evening. We need to cut the red tape and get maximum usage.”

Riley Gettens said Naramata is the “model of success” with their partnership between the community and school.

“The issue is the school and the kids and you need to approach it that way,” Gettens said. “Building relationships before you go and ask for something is a good idea. We all agree this is a viable part of our community so I think it’s worthwhile for our area directors to start investing in that and see how we can use this building better.” Candidate Rick Hatch also agreed. “I’d love to see a shared facility with the RDOS and school district. Right now the way seems to be pay as you go. This is a feeling-out period right now. How is it going to work and what kind of programs will actually draw people in? We’ve already been at the table on this issue and that’s a good thing.”

School board trustee Ginny Manning, who was in attendance as one of two candidates seeking the rural trustee position, said the board does not make money on rentals and it must make sure its expenses are covered.

Manning was more on the hot seat when asked by The Herald how voters in West Bench can trust her after she voted to close the school. (Trustees originally voted 5-2 in favour of closing West Bench and Trout Creek schools. The two trustees in favour of keeping those schools open were from Penticton. The schools were later saved by provincial funding on June 29.)

“The political answer would be to pledge to always keep schools open and I’d like to absolutely say that — ‘I will never close schools again.’ I’m not going to lie to you. My integrity is worth more than that. Closing schools is never, never, never a first option.”

Manning said with an enrollment increase and new funding model, she doubts West Bench School is in danger of closing.

In her opening remarks, opponent Kathy Pierre said, “We have a lot to lose if we close this school. We were first on the list and the last to be saved. We need to put pressure on those in power to keep it open.”

Gettens, who has been involved with numerous community organizations and helped lead the fight to save West Bench School, said she was impressed how much heart the community has.

“I was proud how our community could rally around a cause that we all believed in,” she said, noting that people without children also wanted to see the school remain open.

Schulting is the executive director of the Canadian Mental Health Association. Prior to that time she was finance director for the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation.

It was there she met her “mentor” Janice Perrino, who worked as executive director of the foundation while being mayor of Summerland.

“I’ve always wanted to be involved in politics and this is a great place to start,” she said.

Hatch, who was parents advisory council chairman at the time of the school closure, is a local businessman and farmer.

“We moved to the West Bench to be safe, happy and connected to the earth and where we could grow our own food,” he said.

Manning spoke of her 16 years as a trustee. She said in a typical year she attends 200 school-related events.

Pierre, a teacher and school administrator with the Penticton Indian Band said, “there needs to be diversity on the school board,” and that she would add an Indigenous perspective. Her mother was a residential school survivor but, “instilled in me that education is important and that’s why I continued to go to school with the dream of becoming a teacher.”

Most of Manning’s replies to questions were read from her binder, complete with colourcoded tabs. The others candidates were more from the hip.

Other issues discussed included bus service, cell towers, infrastructure and a reminder to candidates that Faulder is part of Area F.

Ashley Jestin, the fourth candidate for RDOS director, was absent due to a medical appointment.