The Kootenay-Columbia school board has unanimously approved an updated 2019/2020 budget for $51.9 million. This represents a slight budgetary increase due to increased enrollment, grants for specialty programs and targeted funding.
The district says it has allocated funding for a new bus route for the Castlegar area, a three-year band instrument replacement program for the high schools, and IT equipment for school libraries in addition to regular operating expenses.
The 2020/21 budget process has started with the development of a budget schedule.
“The board continues to refine its budget process with an eye on continuing to hear from stakeholders in terms of what is important to them with regard to programs and services,” superintendent Bill Ford says.
“This year’s process, for example, includes a new special budget meeting for parent representatives from each school’s Parent Advisory Council.”
After winning a by-election for the rural Castlegar area, Talin Verigin joined the board this month.
READ MORE: Talin Verigin elected SD 20 trustee
“We welcome Talin to the board and are pleased that we now have a full board complement in which to start the budget process — the most important work the school board does,” said board chair Catherine Zaitsoff.
“We look forward to working with our stakeholders.”
The next public SD20 board meeting is Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. at Webster School in Warfield.