Cariboo North MLA Coralee Oakes was obviously pleased with the Premier’s announcement to come up with funding to keep Kersley and Parkland elementary schools open in the Quesnel School District.
Oakes says she and other rural MLA’s worked hard to help the Premier and her colleagues in more urban parts of the province understand the importance of rural schools.
She says the focus of their argument was around economic diversification.
Oakes says “when you look at the agricultural dynamics of the area between Kersley and Williams Lake and likewise Parkland and Hixon, that is a significant amount of area that is covered, a significant amount OF really important agriculture opportunities and if you want that next generation of ranchers to come into those communities, you need those schools.
She says closing those two schools would have also added significant time on the bus, especially for those living in First Nations Communities
Oakes says the next step is to sit down with the School Board to determine what the true cost is to keep those two schools open.
