In the 1990s when the Vernon School District embarked on rebuilding and renovating Lavington Elementary School, they jointly entered into an agreement with the Lavington Community through the Regional District of North Okanagan for provision of Community Space and Facilities to share jointly as Lavington School and Community Centre.
The community made an enduring investment of $476,000 in the facility to double the size of the gym, add a kitchen and multipurpose room. Over the following years the community invested thousands of dollars in maintenance and provision of equipment and hard assets for both school and community use. That included an outdoor stage, risers, backdrop, curtains and skirting, an outdoor storage container, tables, chairs, carts, recreation equipment and kitchen supplies.
Both school and community flourished and benefited from the joint use relationship. Once the original financial debt was retired, the agreement with the regional district expired and new players joined the school district. SD22 decided to ignore the community’s ongoing investment and treat Lavington the same as any other school. Tthis clearly doesn’t support and discourages joint investment by communities in schools.
Doug Dirk
