The Kamloops-Thompson board of education has begun its rounds to the schools that could be closed as soon as 2010.

Starting in Vavenby on Monday (Sept. 28), followed by Westwold, Savona, Heffley Creek, Pinantan, Logan Lake — including reconfiguration of the high school — and Chase throughout October, the board is holding public meetings in rural communities regarding possible closures, consolidations and reconfigurations.

A decision on the fate of rural schools is expected on Nov. 9.

Starting in November, the board is meeting with Westsyde, Brock, NorKam, Sa-Hali, Valleyview, Beattie/McGill and South Kamloops secondaries, with a decision on reconfiguration expected on Dec. 14.

Next on the docket are the city elementary schools configurations and change from dual-to single-track French-immersion schools.

In January, the board will have joint meetings with Ralph Bell and Marion Schilling, Summit and South Sa-hali, Lloyd George and Stuart Wood regarding the French programs, as well as meetings with Arthur Hatton and John Todd and George Hilliard and Kay Bingham regarding school consolidations.

A decision on both matters is expected on Feb. 22.

In a facilities reconfiguration report released this past June, the board outlined a four scenarios for the district.

The first was to keep the status quo, which trustees have said isn’t an option and would put the district nearly $13 million in debt in fewer than four years.

The second leaves the district $10.1-million in debt and would see the closure of the Haldane elementary annex, Heffley Creek and Ralph Bell.

George Hilliard and Kay Bingham would be consolidated, as would John Todd and Arthur Hatton, along with the French-immersion program at Lloyd George and South Sahali.

There would be a reconfiguration of secondary schools and Beattie would become a grades 8 to 10 program.

Scenario three leaves the district $9.7-million in debt and includes the closure of the Haldane annex, and elementary schools in Vavenby, Heffley Creek, Pinantan, Savona, Westwold and Ralph Bell.

The French-immersion program at Lloyd George and South Sahali would be consolidated, along with a reconfiguration of secondary schools, and Beattie would become a grades 8 to 10 program.

The last scenario leaves the district with the most money, just $9.6 million in debt, but is also the most drastic.

It would see the closures of the Haldane annex, as well elementary schools in Vavenby, Heffley Creek, Pinantan, Savona, Westwold and city schools Ralph Bell, Stuart Wood and Summit.

The French-immersion program at Lloyd George and South Sa-hali would be consolidated, along with a reconfiguration of secondary schools and Beattie would become a grades 8 to 10 program.

Logan Lake elementary would be consolidated with the high school and George Hilliard would join Kay Bingham.

The board has already met with the Kamloops-Thompson Principals and Vice-Principals Association, CUPE, the Kamloops-Thompson Teachers Association — who presented it with of list of recommendations in Vavenby — the district parent advisory council and the First Nations Education Council.