The Okanagan Skaha School District is closing three schools for the coming school year, but the buildings will not be offered for sale on the real estate market.

Instead, Todd Manuel, superintendent of the school district, said the school board will be looking at long-term lease options for these buildings.

The three schools are Giant鈥檚 Head Elementary School in Summerland and Parkway Elementary School and Carmi Elementary School in Penticton.

The three buildings are closing as the school district has been making some changes to its school configuration.

In both communities, the school board is moving away from its elementary-middle-secondary model and will replace it with an elementary-secondary model. 

In Summerland the elementary schools will house students from Kindergarten to Grade 6, while Summerland Secondary School will accommodate students from Grades 7 to 12.

In Penticton, elementary schools will accommodate students from Kindergarten to Grade 7, with the two high schools taking in students from Grades 8 to 12.

Manuel said the school district will put out a request for proposals for the three school buildings in late March.

The board will then evaluate the proposals before making its decisions.

He said the schools have gyms which can be used for the community. The office area and classrooms can be repurposed, he said.

While housing needs have been identified in Penticton and Summerland, Manuel said housing has not been considered a new use for the buildings.