Board Reviews 2025-26 Preliminary Budget
At the Committee of the Whole Meeting on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, the Board of Education received an update on the 2025-2026 preliminary budget from Acting Secretary-Treasurer Jeremy Hunt.
Hunt reported that a projected enrolment decline of 113.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) students, along with a decrease of 20 FTE in categorized funding, is expected to result in a $1.3 million funding shortfall. He noted that the District is exploring cost savings across departments, including reductions to finance software, WCB contract services, electricity and energy due to conservation projects, wellness initiatives, and administrative restructuring, resulting in an estimated savings of $725,165.
The presentation also outlined increased expenditures, or continued support, including a significant rise in employee benefit costs (over $500,000), increased administrative time at Salmon Arm Secondary due to increased enrolment, increased summer custodial hours, reinstatement of the Transportation dispatch position, and the cost difference associated with changing a Director position to a new Assistant Superintendent position, which will be funded by the Quelmúcw Education Council.
If additional funding becomes available, senior leadership proposed initiatives for consideration, including a District Principal of Learning Technology and Innovation, supporting early childhood educators in Kindergarten classrooms, providing additional support for teacher leadership, and reducing teaching loads for sole administrators. However, Hunt cautioned that the current projected surplus of $176,000 would not be sufficient to fund these initiatives.
Trustees emphasized the importance of advocacy, suggesting a letter to the Ministry to support previously promised initiatives, such as ECEs in every Kindergarten class, and calling for province-wide support for cybersecurity.
Superintendent of Schools Donna Kriger brought forward the importance of succession planning in light of upcoming retirements. She proposed changes to the District’s organizational structure, comparing the 2021-22 structure to the proposed 2025-26 structure, noting that the new structure would result in lower costs compared to 2021-22 and slightly higher than 2024-25.
Hunt concluded the presentation by discussing budget risks and transportation funding. A 30-minute session followed, during which public attendees’ questions were addressed. A public question-and-answer period followed the presentation.