By Tom Mark

Public Comment Still Needed for Vernon Schools Budget Plan

Apr 20, 2018 | 6:27 AM

More than 50 people turned out to this week for a Vernon School Board public budget meeting.

Board Chair Kelly Smith says there were some good discussions on various issues, particularly two transportation issues.

“One of them is making sure that all of the routes are meeting the needs of kids going to their home schools and the other one was to look at the possibility of charge fees for kids who are courtesy riders.”

It’s estimated there are one thousand students in the district who are courtesy riders.

Those are kids who are taking the bus to a school that is not their neighbourhood school.

Employee Safety

Employers responsible for worker safety as heat wave hits Okanagan: WorksSafeBC

16h ago

mid- to high 30s

Cooling centres opening in Vernon as heat wave hits the Okanagan

16h ago

Firearm Charges, Vehicle Impounded

Weapon seized from impaired driver asleep in Lumby

18h ago

“The Ministry only funds for students taking the bus to their home school. We have a policy that says if you are taking a bus to your home school and you are 2.4 kilometres away from that school, you can take a bus.”

The board is facing a 420 thousand dollar deficit for the 2018-19 school year.

But school boards must submit a balanced budget.

Kelly Smith says the people who came out didn’t want to talk about what to cut.

“We need to find that money somewhere. What should we cut or what needs to drop off the budget and they were a very interesting group and they were very hoinest when they said we don’t have the background to make those decisions.”

The public still has until the end of the day today to comment on the school district’s website.

The Board meets again April 25th to approve the budget adjustment plan

by Tom Mark