After 51 years, Giant鈥檚 Head School in Summerland will close its doors at the end of this school year.
The elementary school was constructed in 1974 to address a need within the community. One year earlier, the BC Teachers Federation had released a document stating that the student to teacher ration in Summerland was the highest in the province.
The building was officially opened on Oct. 28, 1974 and had 53 students in Grades 3 to 5.
For the 1975 to 1976 school year, the school expanded to Kindergarten to Grade 7.
From 1974 until 2000, there were three elementary schools in Summerland. In 2000, MacDonald School was closed when Summerland Middle School was opened.
During its peak, Giant鈥檚 Head Elementary School housed students in portables as well as in its classrooms.
However, enrolment levels within the Okanagan Skaha School District have been declining, and for close to 12 years, student enrolment has been below 6,000 students. By comparison, in 2001, the school district had a student population of 7,822.
Guidelines set by the Ministry of Education and Child Care have a target of 95 per cent of capacity for schools in British Columbia. Summerland鈥檚 schools have been well below that figure, at 69 per cent of capacity.
Because of the declining enrolment rates, discussions have been held on closing schools within the school district.
In 2015, proposals were considered to close schools in Summerland. One of the proposals was to shut Giant鈥檚 Head Elementary School and relocate the students to the Summerland Middle School building.
Parents voiced their concerns about the proposed closure at that time.
Linda Van Alphen, who was the school board char, said closures were needed to cope with low enrolment and limited funding.
鈥淲e鈥檙e in a position where it鈥檚 critical,鈥� she said. 鈥淥ur assets are starving our educational system.鈥�
Later, the plans shifted and Trout Creek Elementary School was proposed to be closed.
Then, on May 31, 2016, Dan Ashton, MLA for the riding of Penticton, announced additional funding to keep schools open within the school district. This funding came to $266,527 and allowed the school district to keep all Summerland schools open, as well as West Bench Elementary School near Penticton, which had also been slated for closure at the time.
The changes affecting Summerland schools for the upcoming school year are similar to one of the proposals from 2015.
Giant鈥檚 Head Elementary School will close its doors and the Summerland Middle School building is being configured to become Summerland Elementary School for the start of the coming school year.
Summerland Elementary School and the existing Trout Creek Elementary School will house students from Kindergarten to Grade 6, while Summerland Secondary School will accommodate those from Grades 7 to 12.
The school district is looking at long-term lease options for the Giant鈥檚 Head Elementary School building in Summerland, along with long-term lease options for Parkway Elementary School and Carmi Elementary School in Penticton, which are also slated for closure at the end of this school year.
A special event will be held to mark the closure of Giant鈥檚 Head Elementary School. The event will be held June 25 from 5 to 7 p.m.