Safety concerns raised by parents at Beattie Elementary in Lower Sahali have been heard, and the Superintendent of School District 73 says it is taking steps to address them.

A meeting was held with school and city officials, local law enforcement and concerned parents on October, 23rd following two hold and secures being placed on the school.

Terry Sullivan says one step is the city agreeing to enforce its nuisance bylaw in the area. “So that would have the businesses that were housing tenants to take responsibility for their behaviors and to incur any costs that might accrue as a result of those behaviors.”

“School District as well is taking some action with respect to what we have heard. The lighting at the back of the school will be replaced with LED lights and these are considered less desirable, certainly in the evening for those using the area, enclosing some of the areas at the back of the building including under a small stairs.”

Other measures being taken include installing cameras, which Sullivan says it is looking at the locations of those cameras this week. The district will also be re-keying the school, fixing damaged fencing on the property and continuing night patrols by its security company.

Board Chair Rhonda Kershaw says these are some definite valid concerns. “There has really been some challenges in this part of Kamloops recently and it’s happened over time also. So I was glad to see that there are some really immediate security measures being put into place and being bumbled up. I am really looking forward to hearing that that’s going to be really effective. Is it’s not effective we will have to reevaluate and see what else needs to be done.”

Kerhsaw noted that this is in good partnership with a number of organizations in the city and she is happy to see that everyone is coming to the table to try and make that area safer for the students.