Trina Cassidy (File Photo) (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Victor Kaisar

Trina Cassidy

Former SD73 secretary-treasurer nets over $320,000 in severance after October 2024 dismissal

Mar 12, 2026 | 11:52 AM

KAMLOOPS — A former secretary-treasurer at the Kamloops-Thompson School District who was let go in the wake of an accounting error that led to a $2.2-million budget shortfall, was paid over $320,000 in severance.

According to SD73’s executive compensation disclosure statement for the 2024-25 fiscal year, Trina Cassidy was given a total severance of $323,701 following her Oct. 2024 dismissal, most of which – $291,072 – was paid as “salary continuance” between Oct. 9, 2024 and Feb. 11, 2026.

Cassidy was paid $149,748 as salary continuance between Oct. 9, 2024 and the end of the school year on June 30, 2025 and another $141,324 for the period between July 1, 2025 and Feb. 11, 2026.

According to the document, Cassidy was paid $61,661 in base salary between July 1, 2024 until she was dismissed on Oct. 8 that year. She was also given a four per cent performance-based salary increase on Aug. 1, 2024 “in accordance with the K-12 sector-based process for annual, performance-based salary increases for exempt staff.”

Cassidy’s total compensation for the 2024-25 fiscal year was $317,035 – $211,409 in salary and salary continuance, plus $15,958 in benefits, $18,866 towards her pension and $70,802 in other compensation – which includes $32,629 as severance, a $31,590 vacation payout, $4,669 in lieu of benefits and $1,914 as a vehicle/transportation allowance.

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Her total compensation from July 1, 2024 until Feb. 11 this year was $458,359. Excluding her salary, Cassidy was paid $396,698 in all other compensation.

(Image Credit: SD73)

(Image Credit: SD73)

Cassidy was the highest paid SD73 employee in the 2024-25 school year, ahead of former superintendent Rhonda Nixon, who took home $309,606 in total compensation. Nixon left SD73 in July last year and SD73 said she resigned to return to Alberta to support her family.

However CUPE 3500, which represents support staff at SD73, said Nixon’s departure was “the direct result” of a grievance it filed alleging workplace bullying and harassment. The details of her departure package, if any, will be included in the 2025-26 executive compensation disclosure statement.

SD73 Director of Finance Robbie Tallon, who served as acting secretary-treasurer until Harold Cull was appointed, was given a 35 per cent salary temporary salary increase in 2024-25. Tallon had a base salary of $146,745 during that fiscal year and total compensation of $185,909.

CFJC Today has reached out to SD73 for more information about Cassidy’s payout and will update this story if more is known.