Okanagan Skaha school board says thanks for the money; decision on how to spend it to come

PENTICTON – The Okanagan Skaha school board says it appreciates the province’s funding announcement earlier this week, but has yet to decide what role it will play in the financial picture.

In a media release, the board says the redirection of the administrative savings "address some of the immediate financial pressures currently being faced in our schools.”

The province announced over $266,000 would be provided to the school district earlier this week.

The school board intends to meet to discuss how best to use the funds towards frontline services for students at a public meeting on June 13. Third reading of the school district budget is also slated for that meeting.

The board is also undergoing a review by the Office of the Ombudsperson with respect to its processes leading to the decision to close schools.

Chair Linda Van Alphen said earlier this week the school closure and reconfiguration route was chosen because the board wanted to support all or the district’s students with resources, programs and staffing without the expense of maintaining half-empty schools.

“The process has been long and inclusive of all opinions and the board believes it has been solid,” she said in an email, adding the whole process began with statistics showing enrolment in the school district dropping to the point where schools were operating at 75 per cent capacity.

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