File photo (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

BACK TO SCHOOL

‘A really hard year for families’; big year of changes at SD73 brings trepidation for DPAC Chair

Aug 27, 2025 | 4:45 PM

KAMLOOPS — In less than a week, parents will be celebrating as students will be returning to classrooms across Kamloops to begin the new school year.

The new year brings with it considerable change for the Kamloops-Thompson School District, from leadership changes at the district level, to the impacts of budget challenges on schools, classrooms and students alike.

Tuesday (Sept 2) morning, school zone speed limits will be back in effect, as students return to the classrooms of Kamloops. For DPAC Chair Bonnie McBride she’s looking ahead with caution.

“It is a big year of change and we are hearing already from parents about concerns about affording opportunities in schools,” McBride told CFJC News. “I’m moving into this new year as the DPAC Chair with some trepidation, I think it’s going to be a really hard year for families to adjust too.”

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Last year, in the face of immense budgetary pressures, the school board approved reductions to staffing levels in the district, particularly with education assistants in an attempt to balance the books. The impact of that decision will soon be felt.

“If you look at the reductions that happened several times over last year to address those budget challenges, and then the announcement about this year’s budget, we are likely down at least 100 bodies across the district,” said McBride. “And that is going to prove to be a significant challenge for the staff that remain there, to do their jobs and do them well.”

On top of budgetary and staff challenges, the district is also facing a lack of physical space.

“If we do see lots of new students that have arrived to our city, we don’t have the capacity in our schools,” cautioned McBride. “We are four or five schools behind in terms of keeping up with builds in the Kamloops centre. We’re out of space, we’re out of people, we’re out of resources, and we are out of wiggle room.”

With increased pressure on districts across B.C., the DPAC is concerned some of those challenges may be passed along to families.

“It’s coming down to families to fund good education because all they are getting from the province is barely adequate,” said McBride.