School District 57 (SD57) says its online questionnaire with regards to renaming the new Kelly Road Secondary School (KRSS) is ready for public launch.
In a release, the Prince George district is set to roll out the webpage tomorrow (March 20) and will run until mid-April, which was prompted by public reaction after trustees unanimously approved to start the engagement process of renaming the new KRSS building to Shas ti Secondary.
On Feb. 25, SD57’s Board of Education was requested by Lheidli T’enneh Dayi (Chief) Clay Pountney and Elders to consider changing the name to honour the history of the land the new $44.3-million facility is being built upon.
The proposed name means ‘grizzly bear path’ or 'trail' in Dakelh.
Dayi Clay Pountney and Lheidli Elders were here to officially make the request. The gallery applauded when the motion was passed. #CityofPG #SD57 pic.twitter.com/jHLCtd2WQ5
— Hanna Petersen (@hannaepeter) February 26, 2020
Since that public meeting, the decision was met with a mix of reactions, including displeasure from current KRSS students, alumni and the Hart region as a whole, resulting in protests, walkouts and an online petition opposing the potential change.
SD57 also cancelled its four in-person meetings, originally scheduled to take place next month, due to the growing concerns of COVID-19 and regulations in place by B.C.’s chief medical health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.
The district hopes the online questionnaire can act as a platform to hear from Prince George residents about the possible name change.
By the April 17 deadline, the district is hoping to enact ideas on ‘how to preserve the past (Shas ti) and present (Kelly Road) in the new school building’ before its September 2020 opening.
Board trustees are set to make a final decision during its April 28 public meeting.
