With the Kamloops-Thompson School District proposing to reopen Ralph Bell Elementary in Valleyview, questions are being raised about the future of daycares that currently occupy that space.

“This is a huge hit on the multiple daycares in this building. Infant, toddler, preschool and after school care spaces are already urgently needed in Kamloops, now you want to close down dozens of spaces? Sounds silly to me,” said Treb Court, in a facebook comment on Radio NL.

Replied, Michaela Haney, “I am child-care provider myself. The daycare situation will get even more drastic. These daycares will be forced to close and there will be nowhere for them to go,” she said. “The government has a plan to put childcare in schools…not sure how that’s going to work either.”

SD73 Board Chair Rhonda Kershaw was asked about that while speaking on NL Newsday.

“I think it’s too early to tell for those daycares. It’s definitely a concern, but it’s really too early to tell what would happen there,” she said. “Unfortunately, we are looking at the space needs for our students.”

Ralph Bell Elementary was closed back in 2010. The school district is considering reopening it next year to help alleviate some of the enrolment pressures for students in the Kamloops area.

Kershaw is encouraging people who will be impacted by these changes to have their say at a series of public consultations over the next two months.

For the full details of the consultation process, go here.