school
Vernon residents wake up to blanket of snow
YOUR PHOTOS FROM AROUND THE NORTH OKANAGAN VERNON - North Okanagan residents woke up to a thick blanket of snow Wednesday morning. Environment Canada is calling for 2-4 cm of snow today, though the white stuff is expected to change to rain sometime this morning. The dump of snow means buses in the Vernon school...
Minivan strikes school bus with 14 teenagers inside
FALKLAND - A school bus driving 14 teenagers home was struck by a minivan Monday afternoon, sending a student to hospital. RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says the bus was just pulling onto Highway 97 near Falkland after dropping off a student when a minivan plowed into the rear of the bus. The minivan went into...
Learn more about Vernon school board candidates at upcoming forum
VERNON - A chance to learn more about your Vernon school board candidates is approaching. The Vernon Teachers’ Association, in partnership with the District Parent Advisory Council, will hold a public forum for Vernon and Coldstream school trustee candidates on Tuesday, Nov. 4 from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Vernon Secondary School Theatre. “Teachers and parents...
School district calls special meeting on proposed pellet plant
VERNON - The Vernon School District wants assurances a proposed pellet plant won’t be harmful to student health. Superintendent Joe Rogers says the school board will hear from Pinnacle Renewable Energy and Tolko Wednesday night at a special meeting. The companies want to build the pellet plant near Lavington Elementary, next to Tolko’s existing mill...
School district ‘extremely disappointed’ with labour strife
KELOWNA - The Central Okanagan Board of Education is ‘extremely disappointed’ in the lack of movement between the B.C. Teachers’ Federation and the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association, which could result in schools not being open next week as planned. Trustees say they have been pushing the two parties to bring in a mediator to...
School bus cuts get rough ride
VERNON - A school board decision to cut Vernon bus routes is getting a rough ride from parents. School District 22 is tightening up the routes to save approximately $125,000 from its budget. Around 300 students living 2.4 km or more from their school will now have to find another way to get to class....
School’s out, but provincial exams will be written
NORTH OKANAGAN - There will be picket-free entrances for grade 10-12 students writing their provincial exams in the North Okanagan. While school is out for students across the province, a ruling from the Labour Relations Board means grade 10-12 students will write their provincial exams as scheduled and have them marked. All other school exams...
Kelowna camps and clubs expand offerings during strike
KELOWNA – With teacher job action escalating to full strike next week, several local organizations have added programs and extended hours to help parents out. The H2O Centre will open their slides and other attractions at noon instead of 4 p.m. starting Monday, and general manager Cory Krist says they have also instituted morning and...
Teachers agree to full strike
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN — More than 28,000 B.C. teachers voted in support of moving to a full strike, a move that could come as early as next week. In total more than 33,000 teachers took part in the vote Monday and Tuesday, with 86 per cent voting in support of stage three action. “Thank you for standing...
Child care programs filling up fast upon full strike notice
VERNON - At least one Vernon child care organization is filling up fast following the announcement of a full teacher strike. The North Okanagan Child Care Society is expanding its programs next week to give parents a safe place to put their children while school is out. Executive director Hollie Henderson says full day camps, typically...
Full strike could begin Tuesday, no school Monday
OKANAGAN - This week could be the last week of school for many students, the teachers’ union announced this morning it will be moving to a full strike beginning Tuesday unless a deal can be reached on the collective agreement. An email was sent to teachers Thursday night and quickly news spread on social media....
City gets wrong school district on property tax forms
PENTICTON - Property owners will be mailed amended property tax notices after the City noticed an administrative error, naming the wrong school district. The 2014 property tax calculations listed the school district as District 53, Okanagan-Similkameen, rather than the correct District 67, Okanagan-Skaha. “We sincerely apologize to affected property owners for the erros, and regret...
West Kelowna school gets last stop on cross Canada tour
WEST KELOWNA – Students in West Kelowna will be treated to a special presentation Friday as a reward for their help in getting a school built in Kenya. Mt. Boucherie Secondary will host the final performance of the Spencer West “We Create Change” tour. The tour includes a presentation by humanitarian Spencer West, a performance...
UPDATE: Bomb squad arrives to investigate suspicious package left on York Avenue property; closes portion of 8 Street
UPDATE: THE BOMB SQUAD HAS ARRIVED TO INVESTIGATE A SUSPICIOUS BLACK BAG LEFT ON THE DRIVEWAY AT 769 YORK AVENUE IN KAMLOOPS. The Explosive Device Unit is closing 8 Street from Sudbury to Halston Avenue. Police are advising motorists to avoid 8 Avenue. The area will open once the unit has rendered the device on...
SD67 proposes fixing deficit by cutting jobs
PENTICTON - The school district has proposed a plan to cut staff jobs in order to deal with the roughly $1 million deficit the district’s budget faces for the next school year. The plan, proposed to the school board this week, includes cutting 11.5 full-time equivalent jobs — a decision that secretary-treasurer Bonnie Roller-Routley said...