Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Chad Klassen

SCHOOL DISTRICT 73 BUDGET

SD73 board able to move money around to enhance support for online learning

Apr 28, 2020 | 11:05 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops-Thompson School District Board of Education says it has been able to take some of the savings that have accrued during the COVID-19 pandemic and use them to enhance the learning experience for students.

The board passed a $188 million budget during a virtual meeting Monday night (Apr. 27), and Chairperson Kathleen Karpuk says the district has been able to shift resources with no need for buses, as one example, during the school shutdown.

“We don’t have buses running, so we’re saving on fuel. That resource then can be put into different areas to increase support for technology, increased support for vulnerable learners,” noted Karpuk. “As we’re not using one part of our budget, we shift it to a higher priority and we’re fully prepared to do that.”

The budget has more resources dedicated to the online learning technology that is in high demand, as well as supports for teachers utilizing that technology. Karpuk says with a projected increase in enrolment by 72 students next year, the budget is being given a slight boost, allowing the district to put more resources into online learning.

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The board has also authorized the hiring of 13.3 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff for the fall, including more IT people to support online technology as well as more custodians to keep schools clean for students still learning in the classroom. Even during the pandemic, Karpuk says the district has not laid off any staff, saving money not having to pay for some teachers on call.

“We’ve focused and funneled most of that savings into providing school supports for children of essential service workers, and now we’re working on increasing supports and getting vulnerable students such as special needs students back in the school buildings, so we can help them as well,” Karpuk noted. “We have brought in additional teachers from our recall list to have small in-person classes at some of our schools.”

Even with few students learning at school, the board has authorized more staff to increase the amount of cleaning, also preparing for if and when school returns this year.

Karpuk says she feels comfortable the board has put enough contingencies into the budget so it can adapt to changing conditions during the pandemic.