Post 2019 BC budget reveal — SD 73 hoping for future capital funds

Despite not being included in the list of schools getting renovations or new facilities, the school district is cautiously optimistic an announcement will eventually come for Kamloops.

After reading through the budget details, Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Todd Stone says he was concerned when he didn’t see SD 73 on the capital funding list.

“And the reason that’s important is because dozens of other schools, elementary and secondary projects around the province in every corner of British Columbia were listed as projects that the government was committed to.”

Stone says that worry stems from overpopulation in numerous schools in the area, bringing a need for expansions or new facilities altogether.

“There was absolutley no mention in this budget of the much needed capital for School District 73, and notably for projects like the expansion at Valleyview Secondary, and a new school in Pineview Valley.”

However, School District 73 Board Chair Kathleen Karpuk says they were actually not surprised to see that they were not listed by name in the budget.

“Because the schools that are mentioned by name were all previously announced in 2018. So we’re still hopeful that we will get an announcement in 2019.”

The Ministry of Education recently asked SD 73 to complete a project definition report for Valleyview Secondary, laying out what the expansion would look like.

Now, Karpuk says, it’s a matter of waiting.

“That gets us officially on their list of schools to consider for doing an expansion, or as a new school,” she explains. “We are in contact with the Ministry on a regular basis and having conversations with them about our needs.”

Karpuk says while Valleyview is certainly top of mind at the moment, more needs to be addressed in the Kamloops area.

“We need a school in Pineview Valley, we need an extension on Westmount Elementary. We’re looking at Sun Peaks, we’re looking at Sahali, we’re looking at SKSS,” she says. “So we’ve got a lot of projects that we really hope move up on to the queue and get funding soon.”

In the meantime, a local group of parents will be rallying for capital funding outside of Valleyview Secondary next month.

Advocates for SD 73 member Chris Ponti says putting that campus into focus will hopefully paint a picture of how dire their needs are, with nine portables currently used.

The group will be rallying outside of VSS from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m on March 1.

“It is such a bad situation at Valleyview Secondary that I don’t think that the Ministry can ignore it. I’m hoping they can’t.”

Between the rally, and engaging local stakeholders to support the cause, Ponti says advocates are hoping the Ministry of Education will take note of their efforts.

“We want to call it a friendly rally, because that’s what it is. We’re supporting the education system. We want to support capital funding. We think that the students and the community is worth it.”

For now, parents, students, and teachers in School District 73 will be waiting to see what kind of capital funding the future will hold.

by Dylana Milobar

Post 2019 BC budget reveal — SD 73 hoping for future capital funds

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