The Superintendent for School District 73 says he is aware of safety concerns raised by parents at Beattie Elementary in Lower Sahali.

Terry Sullivan says he too is concerned about the increase in criminal activity in the area, which he calls an escalating problem.

“The parents that emailed me last week had outlined a number of concerns and so they asked for a meeting which I certainly agreed to,” he said. “I really want to listen to the concerns that are raised and then I think we have to set up a plan as to how we are going to deal with it.”

He tells NL News the situation through the Columbia Street West corridor as it is right now cannot continue.

“The RCMP have to do their important work. They are dealing with more risk,” Sullivan said. “We have to explain to young children why this is occurring and when it is occurring in higher frequency rates, that obviously has some concerns for the culture of the school and the staff and the children that are in it.”

Kamloops city councillor Mike O’Reilly lives nearby, and he too voiced his concerns about the ongoing problems in the Columbia Street West corridor earlier this week.

Sullivan notes he was first approached by Beattie Elementary school parents after the shooting at the Hospitality Inn on Columbia Street West last Friday morning. Five days later, police were out again at the Panorama Inn next door responding to a domestic violence call.

“There were some issues over the years but not to the degree that we are seeing at the present time. So obviously there are some things in the neighbourhood that have changed. It certainly has escalated,” he added. “We’ve always had some concerns in that area but not to degree that we are seeing now.”

That meeting will take place today with representatives from the Beattie Elementary parent community, the school, the RCMP, and SD73 senior staff.