Skip to content

View from SD73: District has a needs list, not a wish list

Since 2001, School District 73 has seen only $10.7 million in capital spending
8847519_web1_171012-NTC-SchoolDistrict73Logo

By Meghan Wade

It has been a long time since School District 73 (Kamloops-Thompson) has seen a new school or even renovations in an older one.

It has been more than 16 years since the B.C. government built Pacific Way elementary and added space at Lloyd George and Beattie elementary schools.

READ MORE: School District 73 teaching 173 more students than last year

We’re not talking about infrastructure for specialty programs, such as the expansion and equipment for the trades programs made at NorKam senior secondary in 2012, but classrooms and schools, the kind of investment that makes a difference for the majority of students.

Since 2001, SD73 has seen only $10.7 million in capital spending, the majority of which came in 2001 when Pacific Way elementary was built in Aberdeen and the two other schools were expanded.

Why has it been so long? Good question — and one for which we don’t have an answer.

We do know it wasn’t a shortage of provincial infrastructure funds, as many other school districts in B.C. have seen significant investment in their schools.

SD23 (Kelowna), for example, saw $114.9 million in capital investment since 2001. Schools in Prince George received $60.9 million, while the Vernon district received $57.5 million. In Victoria, the district was handed nearly $180 million, although $85 million was needed to make schools safe from earthquakes.

The remaining $95 million, however, went to new buildings, classrooms and other infrastructure improvements.

The list goes on.

In fact, 45 other districts of the 60 in B.C. have received more money for capital improvements than SD73. Our district has seen just $742 per student in capital funds over the years, compared to the provincial average of $6,888 per student.

We have worked hard, of course, to make the most of our infrastructure but there are pressing capital needs in our district — and it’s time to address at least some of them.

Valleyview secondary is at the top of SD73’s capital plan this year. The school has eight portable classrooms on site and runs at 137 per cent capacity. Growth projections suggest the school will operate at 176 per cent capacity by 2025. That means even more portables if the school expansion is not approved. It will cost approximately $24 million to improve Valleyview.

Next on the list is expansion at Westmount elementary. The surrounding neighbourhoods have grown significantly and staff is once again installing more portables there, with five to start the school year. Expansion at Westmount will take pressure off several other nearby schools that must absorb the overflow. The cost for this work is $8 million.

SD73 has long identified the need for a new elementary school in Pineview Valley. This area west of Aberdeen continues to grow and a new school will take pressure off other schools. The price tag for this school is $18 million.

Also on the list is expansion and renovations at South Kamloops secondary, which is one of the older buildings in the district. The school needs to be replaced entirely, but its life can be extended with the construction of additional space and a new gymnasium. Replacing South Kam would cost more than $50 million, but renovations will cost less than $20 million.

The above items are not a wish list. They comprise a needs list and we deserve to have our needs addressed. We can’t afford to see another 16 years without significant investment. Our students, parents, staff, teachers and principals and our entire community deserve better.

– Meghan Wade is chair of the Kamloops-Thompson board of education.