After years of budget debate and public outreach the fate of some local schools may now depend on the hasty reaction of officials to a brand new government fund.
The Rural Education Enhancement Fund (REEF) – which is aimed at saving certain rural schools – was announced just last week.
And the government has sent trustees scrambling because they have set a deadline of Friday for districts to apply.
The Kootenay Lake School board has called an emergency meeting for Wednesday afternoon at which they are expected to decide if they will make any applications.
Winlaw Elementary, Jewett Elementary at Meadow Creek and the Creston Education Centre are among those earmarked for possible closure.
The government has promised funding to save qualifying rural schools will be ongoing.
However the opposition NDP have called the sudden funding announcement a cynical political move ahead of the next provincial election.