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Friday, April 13, 2012
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Enderby faces doctor crunch
ATTENTION TO DETAIL
RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
JOSÉ LAROCHELLE/MORNING STAR
Geoff Fisher focuses on the next hand-hold as Stephen Hooper belays while rock climbing at Cougar Canyon in Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park Monday.
Students prepare for closure RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
Ashton Creek residents are experiencing an emotional roller-coaster after learning the heart of their community will cease to exist. North Okanagan-Shuswap trustees voted Tuesday to permanently shut down Ashton Creek Elementary because of low enrolment. “They cried at first. We shed some tears,” said Diane Minaker of her two children who attend the school. “But I told them there are things they can do at M.V. Beattie (in Enderby) and they will enjoy it.” Parent Crystal Cunningham had presented a 159-petition urging that the school remain open. “It’s disappointing they didn’t listen to the community,” she said, adding that closure could force families to leave Ashton Creek or not move there. “I don’t know what will happen to the store, the community hall or the church that uses the school.”
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The school has 33 students in two, four-grade split classrooms. Parents say the smaller atmosphere has allowed for more one-on-one learning and the children establishing strong relationships. There is a concern that may be lost at Beattie (235 students). Busing is also a concern because while Enderby is 10 kilometres away from Ashton Creek school, many students are another 25 kilometres away at Kingfisher. Others live in the Trinity Valley. “The district says there will be a 20-minute earlier bus ride (before school) and a 20-minute later ride (after school),” said Cunningham. “That’s going to upset a lot of people because some parents don’t get to spend a lot of time with their kids as it is.” The only vote against closing the school came from Chris Coers, the Enderby area trustee. “There were too many concerns over enrolment and finances that folks couldn’t overcome,” she said. “I’m sorry it went that way.”
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Bobbi Johnson, school district chairperson, says she was considering the long-term needs of students when she voted to close the school. “You have to look at the cost and what you have to put into it to provide a good education,” she said, adding that while there have been extra resources, that was unlikely next year because of funding. Johnson also doesn’t support fourgrade splits. “Learning outcomes are different when you have such a broad scope (of students together).” Johnson doesn’t believe longer bus rides will negatively impact students. “We’re in a wide-spread district and lots of kids do that,” she said. Plans for the closure are already underway. “We want to celebrate all of the good things that have gone on here,” said Barry Dearing, Ashton Creek principal, adding the event will be in June. “We’re trying to get past staff, parents and students here.”
Enderby is scrambling to prevent a looming shortage of physicians. The Enderby Health Centre recently lost one doctor who has taken up new duties in Vernon, while another is retiring in June and the third doctor at the centre is moving to Vancouver in September. “It’s an enormous concern for our community,” said Mayor Howie Cyr. Cyr met with the Interior Health Authority and the Community Advisory Council Wednesday to discuss recruitment of new doctors who would be under contract with IHA at the centre. “It’s all of our problem and Howie Cyr we have to work together on it,” he said. “We need to promote the good things the community has to offer — the environment and the quality of life.” Dr. Alan Stewart, IHA’s senior medical director, believes the community should be attractive to new doctors wanting to set up practise. “It’s got some great selling points,” he said. A sub-committee will be formed to pursue recruitment and IHA insists there are no plans to close the health centre. “We are committed to fully staffing the clinic,” said Stewart. But the facility may ultimately not have three physicians on staff. “We’re probably looking at a lower number unless something changes,” said Stewart. “An exodus of physicians gives you the opportunity to revisit how to do things.” Some patients have followed the doctor to Vernon while many of the retiring physician’s patients live in Armstrong and will move to doctors there. Stewart says recruitment could be completed by September, either someone physically in Enderby or preparing to relocate. “I’m hopeful we won’t experience a gap in service.” Besides the existing doctor who will be practising until September, IHA will utilize a nurse practitioner at the centre and temporary physicians. Cyr is also confident new doctors can be found, but he admits many other communities are dealing with the same situation. “It’s a competition. We have to sell ourselves,” he said. Besides the health centre, there are two doctors at a private clinic in Enderby.
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