Trustee Jo Kang (left) (Image Credit: CFJC Today / File Photo)

By Victor Kaisar

SD73 Budget Woes

SD73 trustee proposes freezing board pay in wake of budget shortfall

Apr 11, 2025 | 4:01 PM

KAMLOOPS – A Kamloops-Thompson School Board trustee is proposing to suspend all trustee remuneration until the end of the 2025-26 school year, in the wake of a nearly $6-million budget shortfall.

Trustee Jo Kang confirmed that he will be putting forward a motion at the April 28 board meeting to “immediately” suspend all trustee pay and the annual technology allowance for the rest of the current budget year, which ends in June, as well as the 2025-26 budget year.

“We need to have that discussion at the board level about our pay and what we can do to try to help mitigate this budget and what has happened to it,” Kang told CFJC Today. “I’m neither for or against it right now, but I think this needs to be a public discussion that at least happens.”

All SD73 trustees are paid $27,781 each year, while the Board Chair and Vice-Chair make $32,782 and $29,726 respectively. They also each get an annual technology allowance of $1,000, with that figure reviewed and set by the board each year.

Assuming there is no increase to board pay, Kang’s motion could lead to around $266,000 in savings in 2025-26 — $256,975 in trustee remuneration and $9,000 in technology allowances. If it takes effect in May, it could also lead to another approximately $44,000 in savings in the 2024/25 budget.

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Any potential savings, however, is a drop in the bucket compared to the approximately $5.8 million in cost increases that SD73 says it is facing in its next budget.

“It’s more of public perception to show that we need to lead by example,” Kang said. “Doing this will set a precedent throughout the school board that shows we are taking this very, very seriously and it starts from the top.”

The draft 2025-26 budget unveiled Wednesday (April 9) is proposing to cut 27.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) teaching positions and 49 FTE support staff positions for a total savings of $5.5 million. It is also proposing a $400,000 cut to administrative positions, and $350,000 in decreased spending on services and supplies.

SD73 later clarified that the staffing reductions will not be in-classroom positions or among people connected directly to classrooms. It also said that while school boards are required to pass balanced budgets each year, the ‘per-student’ amount it gets from the provincial government has not increased, even as other costs have gone up.

“We’re seeing common themes around inflationary costs,” Board Chair Heather Grieve told CFJC Thursday. “In terms of supplies and services going up, the cost of vehicle maintenance, parts and gas, those kinds of things. An increase in relief costs. That is something that is being experienced province-wide with other districts.”

Kang said he wants to hear from other SD73 trustees at the April 28 board meeting, which is when the budget is expected to either be revised or approved as presented.

“Speaking for myself, I was elected as a school trustee and it had zero to do with the pay and anything,” Kang said. “It was more doing what is better for our community, our students, for our teachers, for staff, and for parents.”

“I personally could care less about the salary but I want to hear from my fellow trustees and what their views are on this motion and how we move forward.”

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 view the entire SD73 budget presentation here.