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SD 53 Board Offices

After several years of cutbacks and difficult decisions, School District 53 Okanagan-Similkameen is forecasting an unexpected surplus.

Forced by declining enrollment, the district has been scaling back its budget annually, eventually culminating with the announced closure of Osoyoos Secondary School. That decision was reversed after the province stepped in with funding for rural education that promised to support the school for at least two years.

SD53 secretary-treasurer Lynda Minnabarriet says those cuts, combined with a spike in enrollment in Oliver due to the Okanagan Correctional Centre has led to a forecasted surplus of over $400,000.

However, she cautions that things could change between now and the end of June. While their revenue from per-student funding is confirmed in mid-December, new expenses could arise.

“For example, if we budget a certain amount for relief for substitutes and those costs are higher, those could have an impact.”

Minnabarriet was not able to comment on how any of the surplus could be spent, That is a decision for the board to make, a discussion that will begin early 2017.

Board chair Marieze Tarr and vice chair Sam Hancerhoff were not available for comment.