Kersley Elementary School

Quesnel, B.C. – Last minute funding by the provincial government has saved two rural schools in Quesnel from permanent closure.

The news was confirmed by Quesnel School Board Chairperson Tony Goulet following an emergency Board of Education meeting this afternoon where trustees unanimously amended School Closure Bylaw Number Seven.

This after Cariboo North MLA Coralee Oakes announced this morning that Parkland Elementary and Kersley Elementary School would be receiving $248,802 and $282,090 respectively through the Rural Education Enhancement Fund.

The schools had been slated for closure due to a million-dollar deficit the Board had been grappling with.

The government says the funding will be ongoing, though school districts will have to submit their costing in order for the Ministry of Education to determine the amount they will receive in future years.

“We’re proud we were able to work together in this difficult process,” says Goulet.

“We’re over the moon,” adds Shannon Wilwand, who’s a member of the Friends of Kersely School Committee.

“It’s been a long, hard process and I hope that moving forward we can work together with our district officials and with government officials to make sure that the public education system is what its supposed to be – a place for our kids to flourish.”

According to Goulet Kersley Elementary, which is located just south of Quesnel, is home to 61 students while Parkland Elementary, just north of town, has 69 students.