Organizers of School District 83's exchange program with Inashiki, Japan are looking for a decision on the fate of the initiative, which has been on hiatus since the pandemic.
Dan DeRosa, who teaches Japanese at Salmon Arm Secondary and is on the Inashiki Twinning Committee, broached the subject with the school board at the June 18 meeting in order to give the Japanese coordinators an answer on SD83's future participation.
"There's a number of us who'd like to carry on with the program... we see the value of this," he said, adding that retired principal Pam Chudiak remains a strong supporter. "And of course our sister city, Inashiki, is super keen to maintain this program."
The question of the program's continuation is largely due to funding issues, but with the district as a whole facing a budget crunch, DeRosa reassured the board that the committee isn't asking for money.
"What we would like is an indication from the board, or whoever makes the decision, whether there's any will or intent to carry on the exchange program."
He added that Inashiki is willing to consider possible modifications and other cost-saving measures, and would like to have an online meeting to discuss the future of the program. If, however, the board isn't interested in pursuing the exchange any longer, the committee would request a formal letter informing Inashiki of that decision.
“This was a formal agreement with a signed letter of memorandum between the City of Inashiki and School Board 83,” DeRosa said of the program’s origins. “Given the formality of such an agreement, a note from those of us on the twinning committee would be inadequate.”
Providing additional background on the history of the program, he explained that it's been taking place for 33 years pre-COVID, with SD38 sending students to Inashiki for an immersive experience every March, then hosting Japanese kids in August. In a cost saving move a few years before the pandemic, organizers started alternating years with just one group making the trip each year.
An answer on the program's continuation is still pending; however, as board chair Amanda Krebs explained that they don't make decisions on delegation presentations at the same meeting, but will discuss it in future and provide a formal response at that time.