Kootenay Lake School Board adopts $71 Million budget for 2020-21
By Nelson Daily Staff
While dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic that has turned the school system upside down, the Kootenay Lake School District 8’s Board of Education managed to adopt the 2020-2021 annual Budget Bylaw on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 in the amount of $71,113,093.
In a media release, the Kootenay Lake Board of Education said the balanced budget is overall 0.5% higher than the amended budget for the current school year.
The new budget also includes increases in spending for diverse learners, student transportation and for facilities improvements.
“The new budget continues our work towards the Board’s strategic goals and improving student achievement results,” said Dr. Christine Perkins, School District 8’s Superintendent in the media release.
“We are moving forward on our plans to continue delivering innovative and effective educational services, despite the additional challenges posed by COVID-19.”
Due to the Coronavirus, the district was forced to run a mainly online internal and public consultative process, that included hosting dozens of zoom consultation meetings and using online surveys to obtain feedback from stakeholders, partner groups, students and families.
“We were pleased with the advance budget planning and consultation that was accomplished, despite the limitation of in-person meetings,” said Board Chair Lenora Trenaman.
“In fact, some of the online communication and survey tools were quite effective and we will likely continue to use them again in the future, even when there is a return to normal.”
Total projected revenues were able to increase despite significant changes in Ministry of Education funding priorities.
“Next year there is no longer an envelope for REEF Funding (Rural Education Enhancement Funding), but the District was a major beneficiary of an increase in the Small Community Supplement within the Unique Geographic funding, and we are grateful to have a stable and supportive funding partner in the Ministry of Education”, said Secretary-Treasurer Michael McLellan.
As for new Capital Spending, the Board of School District 8 will be proceeding with the following projects in 2020-2021, totaling $2,729,306:
- Annual Facilities Grant – Capital Portion – $1,094,762
- Carbon Neutral Capital Program (CNCP) Mount Sentinel HVAC – $244,000
- School Enhancement Program (SEP) South Nelson Mechanical Upgrades – $800,000
- School Enhancement Program (SEP) Trafalgar Electrical Upgrades – $400,000
- Bus Acquisition Program (BUS) New School Bus – $140,544
Schools in BC were closed by the BC Government prior to spring break in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After returning from the two-week holiday, schools were forced to improvise their teaching methods as most students remained home in self isolation.
This week, Premier John Horgan said there would not be a return to regular schooling until September, proposing a gradual increase in the number of students in the classrooms.
Earlier Minister of Education Rob Fleming said the government is dealing with the safely teaching children of frontline and essential service workers who are back in schools, most at the primary level.
