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By Victor Kaisar

SD73 Budget Cuts

SD73 proposing dozens of teaching, support staff jobs cuts citing increased costs and lack of provincial funding

Apr 10, 2025 | 5:36 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops-Thompson School District (SD73) is proposing to cut nearly 77 teaching and support staff positions to save millions in the 2025-26 budget, citing a number of “significant budget pressures.”

The plan, which was presented Wednesday (April 9) night, is proposing to cut 27.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) teaching positions and 49 FTE support staff positions. According to the Board, the two moves combined will save over $5.5 million.

“We know these staff. They’re our colleagues, our friends, and in some cases, they’re our family,” Superintendent Rhonda Nixon said. “They matter but we do not have provincial funding to sustain these staffing levels. We have had to make some very difficult choices.”

“Because we care about every person who may be impacted in even a small way by these proposed reductions…we will not name specific positions,” she added.

Nixon said SD73 Human Resources will work with affected individuals after April 28, which is when the budget is expected to either be revised or approved as presented by the Board of Trustees.

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“Until that time, we have provided school principals and supervisors with necessary information to engage in their scheduling and to have follow up staff meetings,” Nixon said.

“Due to the collective agreement requirements, we will have these communications at the end of April and the beginning of May.”

Nixon also said two administrative positions were reduced from the Superintendent’s office and the Secretary Treasurer’s office. She also said the District Principal of Early Learning and Child Care position, which has been vacant after a retirement, will not be filled. According to SD73, these measures account for $400,000 in cuts.

“We will continue to review exempt positions and future cost savings to the district especially those that become vacant through attrition,” Nixon said. “We will review school enrolment and when enrolment gets too low, we will reduce vice-principal positions as is our usual practice.”

The SD73 budget is also proposing to cut services and supplies by $350,000. All told the measures presented Wednesday will account for $6.25 million in reduced spending.

‘Very difficult decisions’

Nixon said SD73 has had to make “very difficult decisions” to manage approximately $5.8 million in cost increases in 2025-26. SD73 says next year’s budget includes an extra $1.9 million in replacement salaries, $1.3 million in teacher increment and salary changes, $1 million in benefit increases and $634,000 in inflationary costs.

The district also says it is facing increased costs to the tune of $550,000 for vehicle and equipment replacements, $200,000 to move and portables (which the Ministry does not fund), and another $200,000 in costs to open Sníne Elementary in Pineview Valley.

As for revenue, SD73 is projecting a drop of $77,000 in its enrolment-based operating grant. It’s also expecting to get $50,000 less in interest income though its projecting about $20,000 more in revenue made by renting out its facilities.

SD73’s total budget is around $251 million, the vast majority of which – $210 million or 84 per cent – comes from the Operating Fund. That fund covers the day-to-day operations of the district and includes things like salaries, benefits, utilities, fuel and supplies.

The district also said with student enrolment expected to be flat next year, it is expecting to get a similar amount of revenue next year.

“We have done everything we can to meet priorities of our school communities and partners, while recognizing that it is an impossible task given the current funding levels,” Nixon said.

SD73 Enrolment Trend. (Image Credit: SD73)

The proposed job cuts come months after a $2-million accounting error at SD73 came to light. The District already made a number of other cuts and brought in additional cost saving measures to try to rebuild its reserves.

In December, the SD73 said it was “on track” with its goal to cut back on spending to make up for the shortfall. It also said this proposed budget is not related to that error.

SD73 said if the budget is approved as presented, it expects to end the 2025-26 school year with a $390,000 surplus. It is also working on a goal is to build up an emergency surplus of around $6.5 million, which staff say would take 10 years, based on current estimates.

Feedback being sought

Nixon said Wednesday the draft budget was developed after consultation with staff, parents, caregivers, students, and employee groups.

“We acknowledge that the idea is to have no reductions to staffing,” she said. “We value everyone of staff members because we need them, so I say this with a heavy heart it was not easy. It was not easy for the board to listen to for months and it was not easy for our executive staff and it was not easy for our partner groups.”

“We’ve done our best to meet school community feedback while making these decisions.”

People can have their say into this proposed budget until April 21. Feedback came be emailed to SD73, dropped off at the SD73 Board Office on 9th Avenue, or sent in to the board via the school principal or supervisor.

You can watch the entire SD73 budget presentation below: