As required by law – School District #53 will present a balanced budget by the end of June. At the moment in a preliminary budget the District has an operating grant of $23, 199, 783 with expected expenses at $23, 484,177 leaving a deficit.

That deficit of $284, 384 will be covered by some savings on staffing but mostly on utilities, supplies and services. Staff say that the geo thermal system at OES and SOSS is expected to supply significant savings.

The district will also cover extra costs with a projected surplus which going into the current year was $600 thousand.

Other school districts in the region have complained in the media of over runs that are in excess of a million dollars but not so in Okanagan-Similkameen.

Superintendent Bev Young told the trustees that the district can expect a larger than normal kindergarten turnout in September with 160 children registered so far. As of April of this year overall school population has only dropped off 3 students since September of 2012 – YouLearn centres gaining the most students.

Inquiry Time Model – the board has decided to go ahead with this initiative which will see collaboration time once a month in all schools for teachers and administrators. All trustees voted for this plan that will begin in September and be conducted in 7 of ten months of instruction next year. Both Oliver trustees Tamela Edwards and Rob Zandee stated that they recognized the concern of some parents over the loss of instruction time but believe in the end the students will benefit from “Inquiry Time”.

Schools have been asked to set up that one day similar to other “early dismissal days” -i.e. parent-teacher-interviews.

Zandee says schools are designed to be institutes of learning not daycares. Parents are being asked to accommodate the change for these “special days” with early bus schedules.