Dry grad organizing committees across the Central Okanagan are breathing a sigh of relief after thousands of dollars the groups are set to receive were nearly taken away.

The Central Okanagan School Board held a lengthy debate at its regular meeting Wednesday discussing the merits of helping to disburse funds from the B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch to dry grad committees in the area.

Dry grad committees at the area’s five senior high schools have split close to $25,000 from the BCLDB the past two years, funds that have been raised from donations at liquor stores.

“I’m opposed to our involvement in distributing these funds,” said trustee Anna Hunt-Binkley.

“Accepting funds from the liquor distribution branch for a dry grad activity sends a mixed message to our students. I feel the majority of the students that are attending these are under the age of 19. I would feel better if we were taking money from the sale of tobacco. At least the legal age for smoking tobacco is 16.”

The BCLDB sends money raised from its dry grad fundraising campaign to the district which in turn sends it out to the dry grad committees.

Hunt-Binkley said that gets the district involved and liable whether they like it or not. Other trustees disagreed.

“The feedback from the majority of parents is that they would like to have this,” said trustee Gail Given. “The liquor distribution branch isn’t promoting this to young people. They are collecting funds from adults who are within the liquor distribution branch and want to support dry grad.”

Parents on both sides of the issue also spoke to trustees.

“Many parents are finding the cost of graduation extremely high,” said Donna Ouimet of the Rutland dry grad committee. “This money helps us keep the cost of dry grad really low. If we weren’t doing dry grad these kids would be out in the bush drinking, partying and driving.”

Other parents said the issue of allowing dry grads to use money raised from the sale of booze was ironic and that the board should spend its time on things like reading, writing and arithmetic.

After nearly an hour of discussion, board chair Rolli Cacchioni had had enough.

“Dry grad committees are extremely competent and I thank them. This is micromanaging,” he boomed. “We need to put this in perspective. Dry grad committees do an excellent job and they will be responsible.”

In the end the board voted to continue to disburse the funds to dry grad committees. Part of the money is supposed to be spent on educating students on the dangers of alcohol abuse.

kparnell@kelownacapnews.com