'School might not be on their radar at the moment': Back-to-class will look different in Shuswap area

The start of the new school year is just days away for most British Columbian students, but for some in wildfire-ravaged neighbourhoods, they will have to wait.

The start of the new school year is just days away for most British Columbian students, but for some in wildfire-ravaged neighbourhoods, they will have to wait.

The North Okanagan-Shuswap School District is hitting pause for a portion of its student body until September 11 as families remain under evacuation orders.

The school district wrote in a letter that information has been shared with families of North Shuswap Elementary about relocating both staff and students from that school to Carlin Elementary and Middle School. The board mentioned that there will be alternate transportation routes to Carlin for the evacuated families.

North Shuswap area high schoolers who attend J.L. Jackson and Salmon Arm Secondary schools will have the choice of going to class in person or through a hybrid model.

"The trauma that they've experienced, school might not be on their radar at the moment," said Donna Kriger, the School District 83 superintendent.

"We've tried to just zero in on those people with the direct impact of losing a home or losing a property."

Thousands of residents remain displaced, and the number of homes destroyed has yet to be quantified.