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New Principal for Gold Trail school

Gold Bridge Community School has a new Principal, faces a review

Gold Bridge Community School, part of School District No. 74 (Gold Trail), has a new Principal.

The Board of Education announced last week that Mrs. Debbie Ralston has accepted the position of Principal of the school beginning Aug. 1. She will continue in her role as Principal of George M. Murray Elementary School in Lillooet, a position she has held since 2013.

Mrs. Ralston has also served as Principal of Cayoosh Elementary School in Lillooet. She has been an employee of S.D. 74 since 1987, when she was hired as a teacher at Gold Bridge School. In recent years she has been a leader of the District’s Elementary Literacy Network.

The future of Gold Bridge School within S.D. 74 is under examination. There are currently three pupils enrolled at the remote school, and at its June 17 meeting the Board of Education voted 4–3 against adopting a Viability Plan that would guarantee the school’s survival for another three years.

The Plan was created in May 2013, and two of the dissenting Trustees asked to see updated information before deciding on whether to adopt the Plan.

Adoption of the Viability Plan would have ensured that Gold Bridge School did not face a school closure review for three years. SLRD Area A Director Debbie Demare has been asked to provide an updated Plan, which the Board will consider at a fall 2014 meeting.

The first Board of Education meeting for the 2014–15 school year is scheduled to take place at Cache Creek Elementary School on Tues. Sept. 2, with the Open Board meeting starting at 7 p.m. Members of the public are welcome to attend any of the Open Board meetings.

Barbara Roden