A new not-for-profit society, lengthy negotiations with regional governments and a full-fledged week long sit-in protest. These are just a handful of efforts Robson Valley residents have used to save the Dunster Fine Arts School from closure in recent weeks. 

“People are unhappy with the process and we’re trying to find an alternative to closure,” said Chris Taylor, a spokesperson for the Dunster Fine Arts School Society.

Following what could be the last day of school ever in Dunster, many residents occupied the school for five days last week in opposition to the planned closure. While they planned to stay there until an agreement was reached to save the building, School District No. 57 which owns the school, got a court injunction to remove the protesters on July 2. A tent city still sits just outside of the school on the Dunster General Store property.

“There were 30 people always rotating through the school. There were at least two people in the school at all times,” Taylor said. “We felt we were getting nowhere and had to send a message. We’re still fighting to save the school.”

They were served with trespassing papers earlier in the week, but on July 2, the school board moved ahead with a court injunction, and the protesters peacefully left the building. Taylor said she was surprised at the move by the school board.

However, negotiations are continuing to ensure schooling does return to Dunster in September, Taylor said.

The Ministry of Education has written a formal letter stating they would be happy if the school was transferred to another organization, such as a not-for-profit society.

The Regional District of Fraser Fort George had offered to take over the building and allow the school board to provide educational resources, but since they didn’t have enough funds to do so, a referendum to raise taxes in Dunster to pay for the school would have had to take place. By taking over the building, the school board would not pay for capital upgrades required at the school.

“Nobody wants to pay more taxes,” Taylor said. “We decided that’s not the route we were going to take.”

She points out most of the tax bill for Dunster residents comes as education tax, so asking the community to pay more would be unfair.

Instead, a not for profit school society is being formed and must come up with a five-year business plan in order to take over the school and provide a venue for classes. If this happens, the province could then give the building to the new society (The Dunster Music Society has also offered to help), and the school board could provide the teachers and educational resources.

Taylor said parents want to see this complete as soon as possible, so classes can resume in September.

The Regional District is still supportive of saving the Dunster Fine Arts School, Taylor said, and the groups met on July 5 to discuss other options.

However even with a building, the school board has not yet said if it will provide schooling in Dunster. The society needs to present the business plan to the school board they can consider their options.

“We hope to have everything in place by next Monday,” Taylor said.

After the Prince George School Board voted to close the school (which had 27 students enrolled last year) in March, residents have tried a number avenues to save the building, which many see as the heart of the tiny community.

The Regional District could not be reached for comment by deadline.