Castanet

“Mayor Waterman and council do not support closure of any school in Summerland. A loss of a school facility is not consistent with our priorities for the future of Summerland which focus on economic health, encouraging the development of land to increase available housing options, and the promotion of Summerland as a highly attractive community for families. Further, enrollment projections provided by the school board are not congruent with council’s vision."

I am speechless. This statement is weak, confabulated and ultimately, irresponsible. For such a pivotal issue, both socially and economically, the "official" statement from Summerland's Mayor Peter Waterman and council is grossly irresponsible to their constituents. How embarrassing.

I think the problem here is in the use of the word "congruent", obviously misused in an attempt to eschew obfuscation.

The priorities consistent with the future plans of Summerland is to spend money inefficiently to support 1/2 empty schools? Summerland loves to spend money it doesn't have!

Maybe mayor and council can host a referendum and see if the tax payers are willing to have the school portion of their taxes increased dramatically so that it makes fiscal sense to keep the school opened? Or maybe they can sit in on a grade 5 math class and apply what they learn to the current wants/needs of their perceived mandate?

It's the same thing in Penticton. Each potential school closure has its own parade of nitwits signing petitions because "their" school shouldn't be the one to close.

I actually find this whole thing hilarious. We have an idiot Mayor in Summerland who said the School Board decision was.....not "congruent with council’s vision for growth". The sad news for you Mr Waterman is that the council before you was "congruent" in what it takes to make a sustainable community. The people that you and your ilk displaced actually had a clue as to what would make Summerland a planned and viable community based on well established principles of smart growth where density happens were it is cost efficient to service. Mr Waterman and his like minded idiot's instead rejected the sound plan of smart growth and instead suggested that there was plenty of infill land to meet housing needs. All the while playing the Agricultural Land reserve card for lands that have not been farmed for 10 or 20 years and never will be for ever cuz they just ain't viable to be farmed. The reality however is that the cost of your in filled land lots, one two, three, or four kilometers outside of town for the "families" you profess to attract for your viable family community cost 25% or more. And every one of them costs the school district for bus rides to and from school. Do you not think that is a consideration of costs to operate any school? The previous council's plan would have most of the new development within walking distance of of middle and high school.
Myself and a few others foreshadowed this outcome in the civic election threads....specifically....the closure of Summerland schools if Waterman, Barkwell, Trainer, and Boot were to be elected.
What people like this are actually doing is making Summerland a satellite retirement community with a mish mash of large lot land owners that can afford to do so. Neither of which are goinng to shop in Summerland or support a school population.
IMO, with continued leadership that mirrors the current, within ten years I can see two, Grades one thru nine schools, with anything above that on a bus to Penticton.
That will be really be attractive in attracting families.

twobits wrote:I actually find this whole thing hilarious. We have an idiot Mayor in Summerland who said the School Board decision was.....not "congruent with council’s vision for growth". The sad news for you Mr Waterman is that the council before you was "congruent" in what it takes to make a sustainable community. The people that you and your ilk displaced actually had a clue as to what would make Summerland a planned and viable community based on well established principles of smart growth where density happens were it is cost efficient to service. Mr Waterman and his like minded idiot's instead rejected the sound plan of smart growth and instead suggested that there was plenty of infill land to meet housing needs. All the while playing the Agricultural Land reserve card for lands that have not been farmed for 10 or 20 years and never will be for ever cuz they just ain't viable to be farmed. The reality however is that the cost of your in filled land lots, one two, three, or four kilometers outside of town for the "families" you profess to attract for your viable family community cost 25% or more. And every one of them costs the school district for bus rides to and from school. Do you not think that is a consideration of costs to operate any school? The previous council's plan would have most of the new development within walking distance of of middle and high school.
Myself and a few others foreshadowed this outcome in the civic election threads....specifically....the closure of Summerland schools if Waterman, Barkwell, Trainer, and Boot were to be elected.
What people like this are actually doing is making Summerland a satellite retirement community with a mish mash of large lot land owners that can afford to do so. Neither of which are goinng to shop in Summerland or support a school population.
IMO, with continued leadership that mirrors the current, within ten years I can see two, Grades one thru nine schools, with anything above that on a bus to Penticton.
That will be really be attractive in attracting families.

Two Bits,you are right on the money with your post!!! Our former Mayor Perrino,talked more than once about school closures,with zero growth in the community,so it shouldn't be much of a surprise to anyone,when this issue came to light.
You have to have a reasonable growth rate and provide some market affordable housing for young families to reside in our community.All this Council has is concerned about is cheap dirt for growing of cherries and apples and that situation just doesn't pay the bills going forward.