Trustees vote to close CMS by June 30

School District 58 trustees voted in favour of closing Coquihalla Middle School in Merritt effective June 30 at its regular meeting last week.

Trustees passed and adopted the school closure bylaw with no opposition at the district board meeting April 18 in Merritt following a lengthy consultation period with the public, as required by the bylaw.

The closure became part of the board's plans, the first of two alternatives, after a decline in student enrollment this past school year.

The board is currently negotiating with parties interested in utilizing or possibly purchasing the CMS building.

District considers Ipad pilot project worth $57,000

School District 58 is considering implementing an Ipad pilot project that would fit two elementary schools with Ipads for their students at a cost of about $57,000.

The board heard from district technology co-ordinator Jason McAllister, who gave a presentation outlining student engagement through e-learning initiatives. McAllister suggested weaning students off laptops and switching to mobile devices, the iPad 2 in particular.

Currently, Merritt Bench Elementary, Collettville Elementary, and Niocla-Canford Elementary have some Ipads for students. The laptop program, one-to-one learning, is available to students Grade 7-9.

McAllister says students are more interested in mobile devices compared to laptops.
Learning initiatives through the district's e-learning program entail mainly games for mathematics and story-based learning on the literacy side.

Asked about the long-term goal of the district's e-learning initiatives, Superintendent Bob Peacock said to have technology integrated into the classroom all day, every day.

However, he said the Ipad pilot project should be combined with "good teaching" and not act as a mere babysitter for students.

Establishment of Princeton hockey academy in the works

At the March 14 school district board meeting in Princeton, Princeton Secondary School principal Sandee Blair gave a presentation on the school establishing a hockey academy via Hockey Skills Canada.

The proposed PSS Hockey Skills Academy has the support of Hockey Skills Canada, but to start the process, HSC first needs letters of endorsement from Princeton Minor Hockey Association, Princeton Secondary School, and Superintendent Bob Peacock. Letters must be received by April 30.

The program, open to male and female students Grades 9-12, would run during the first semester of the school year at a cost of $150 per student.