Kamloops-Thompson School District receives support from Province to plan for a new school in Batchelor Heights

The Ministry of Education has provided formal support for the Kamloops-Thompson School District to develop options for a new school in Batchelor Heights. 

The District’s Capital Plan, submitted to the Ministry in June 2021, listed the elementary school in Batchelor Heights as its top capital priority. 

“The Ministry’s positive response to our capital plan submission for 2022-2023 is much needed and appreciated,” Board Chair Heather Grieve confirmed. “Our enrolment numbers are climbing by the equivalent of a medium-sized elementary school each year. This support for a new school in Batchelor Heights is a welcome sign that some relief is coming to our most overcrowded school facilities in Kamloops.”   

The SD73 Board of Education has embarked on its own strategies ​to manage enrolment growth and make the best possible use of existing facilities, including making 13 school catchment area changes since April 2021.  

“Our board and staff have worked together to listen, consult, and support community members who have been impacted by catchment changes,” said Grieve, noting that completion of a new school in Batchelor Heights is a few years away and will still require the recently announced catchment changes to alleviate enrolment pressures at Westmount in the meantime.  

There is no school in the Batchelor Heights area and Batchelor Heights students attend Westmount Elementary School. Currently, at 181% capacity and with 41% of Westmount students in six portables, District staff recommended a catchment change earlier this year for Westmount Elementary. As of September 2022, approximately 95 students from Westmount Elementary School will go to either David Thompson Elementary or Westsyde Elementary.  

”Students deserve to learn in positive, engaging, and inspiring classrooms and we are working hard to provide the best learning experience possible for children in Kamloops and throughout B.C.,” said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Education and Child Care. “We have already announced $71.3 million to add 645 new student seats to Kamloops’ schools since 2017, and our support for a new school in Batchelor Heights is another example of our commitment to investing in the future of our communities.”  

In May 2021, the Province also supported the district to develop and submit plans for a new school in the Pineview Valley neighbourhood, and the district was also able to re-open Westsyde Elementary in September 2019 to further support areas of growth in Kamloops.  

Kamloops-Thompson School District Director of Facilities Art McDonald estimates design and construction will take approximately three years after funding approval has been received from the Province. 

“This is certainly a positive step as throughout this last year, and years prior, we have heard from parents and staff about the need to address enrolment pressures at this school,” said Dr. Rhonda Nixon, Superintendent, SD73.