Declining enrolment concerns Abbott

It was good, but not great.

That’s the word from Kamloops-Thompson board of education chairwoman Denise Harper following a meeting last week between local trustees and the province’s education minister.

“He wasn’t promising money, but he wasn’t saying absolutely not,” Harper told KTW.

“We’re still very determined.”

Education Minister George Abbott was in Kamloops touring a number of schools and meeting with board of education members.

On the agenda for trustees were a number of capital projects, with NorKam secondary’s long-awaited trades and technology program at the top of the list.

Prior to the meeting, Abbott was at A.E. Perry elementary, officially opening that school’s StrongStart program.

After reading to a group of children, Abbott spoke with reporters about the capital projects.

He said it’s tough

for the province to earmark funds for capital projects in districts where enrolment is shrinking.

“Kamloops is one of the districts where enrolment continues to decline,” he said.

“We have not seen in the past decade any growth.”

Harper said that same sentiment came across in the meeting.

“He certainly didn’t leap up and promise us money,” she said.

“I have a great fear there’s still the expectation the district should put up the lion’s share of the money.”

Harper said money would likely be expected to come from the cash generated by the sale of a piece of McGill Road property last year to Telus.

“We are extremely reluctant to tap into that source,” she said.

“It’s like our life savings and we don’t know if we’ll ever have it again.”

The school district took in $7 million from the sale. The NorKam trades and technology program is expected to cost about $8 million.

In 2009, the provincial government said it was ready to contribute nearly $3 million to the project.

The program would see new shops and classrooms built on NorKam’s campus, stocked with tools and equipment to teach students various trades and skills.

Harper said district officials are meeting with ministry staff later this week to follow up on last week’s discussion.