Kamloops city staff and Kamloops-Thompson School District officials discussed local needs with Ministry of Education officials at the UBCM Convention in Vancouver.

In an ‘unprecedented’ meeting, Mayor Ken Christian says it was the first time the two groups met with the Ministry at once, which was a suggestion of the School Board.

Chief among the discussions was the need for new schools in the city, especially in the Pineview area.

“The need for a couple of elementary schools and a secondary school site up there,” Christian said. “We wanted to talk to them about acquiring land and how that works so that we can work jointly on making sure that there’s educational opportunities in those neighbourhoods.”

He says the Kamloops delegation also talked about the rebuilding of Parkcrest Elementary, which was destroyed in a fire on September 5.

Christian noted the city is willing to expedite the process as best they can.

“I think it was well received and they have really recognized the need for this school district, both because of growth and because of the tragic fire,” Christian said. “So I think it was good that we appeared jointly with them to put a very common front in terms of making Kamloops a priority. I think from their perspective the Ministry would have seen a community united.”

On the new school front, most recently, a $34.5 million expansion to Valleyview Secondary was announced in April. It’s expected to be open by the end of 2022.