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North Okanagan Shuswap School District Budget & Capital Plan Firmed Up

Jun 22, 2018 | 8:25 AM

The official trustee for the North Okanagan Shuswap School District has approved the 2018-19 budget bylaw of close to 80 million dollars.

Mike McKay says nothing changed from the May board meeting where operating funds were allocated.

It’s likely there is going to be a small surplus, but that won’t be known until the start of the next school year.

“When we look at some of the items that were being considered for the regular budget, which has just been passed, to see if a little bit of those surplus funds might go to support those if they weren’t successful in that first round.”

The district’s five year Capital Plan also received approval

A number of projects are recommended from a rebuilt gymnasium at Len Wood Middle School to replacement buses, playground equipment and heating and ventilation upgrades at various schools.

What’s not there is a new downtown elementary school for Salmon Arm.

Mike McKay says that’s not been forgotten.

“So we’re starting to get the wheels turning developing a long range facilities plan so that we can make a case to government for a downtown elementary school at some point in the next few years.

McKay says the community is growing and the case for a new school should become clearer before long.