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TUESDAY April 2, 2013 The Central Okanagan’s Best-Read Newspaper www.kelownacapnews.com
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▼ BUDGET
School district scrambling to find more money Superintendent of schools identifies a $2-million shortfall heading into the budget process for the 2013-14 school year. Jennifer Smith The superintendent of the Central Okanagan School District, Hugh Gloster, is anticipating a $2-million shortfall going into preliminary budget meetings this week. The district is budgeting for $173,544,272 in funding from the province, but already knows it will not be enough to meet the bills and there are more needs on the horizon. And it is already hearing that from parents and employees. “Just because my kid doesn’t qualify for any learning assistance or resource support, I don’t understand why he can’t receive any extra help from another teacher besides the classroom teacher,” reads one parent’s comment in response to requests for budget input issued by SD23. A submission for a learning assistance coordinator has been filed with the district, a new position worth $47,000, and the CUPE workers who lose time during the second week of spring break are also asking to bank minutes toward a pay cheque replacing the loss of income this second week of break has created.
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Hugh Gloster “The ongoing inclusion of a second week of spring break has a very significant negative impact on 10-month employees and low-income parents,” said CUPE local 3523 president Wendy Johnson in a submission filed with the district. “This not only creates a loss immediately felt by the employee’s family but also affects the 10-month employee’s pensionable service and retirement benefit. “There are many 10-month employees who have children in our school system,” she goes on to say. “The wage loss to parents immediately results in these families being barely able, or unable, to meet their financial obligations and often doing without basic necessities.” Other districts in B.C. have agreed to this time-banking scheme. The district’s finance and legal committee will meet on Wednesday, April 3 to begin discussing the wants, needs and shortfalls to accommodate in the budget, and the superintendent will provide his budget recommendations on Apr. 17.
WADE PATERSON/CAPITAL NEWS
COLIN RICE leads the 19th annual Way of the Cross Walk in downtown Kelowna Friday. Participants began at First United Church and carried the cross to a series of locations where local organizations deal with social issues.
Easter marked in different ways in Central Okanagan Wade Paterson STAFF REPORTER
Kelowna was marked Easter in both secular and non-secular ways here on the weekend. While hundreds turned out for a huge pancake breakfast and Easter egg hunt on Friday, others took to the streets in a more solemn demonstration, a show of faith that included marching with a giant wooden cross in the annual Way Of The Cross Walk downtown. About 3,000 people visited Parkinson Recreation Centre on Good Friday to take part in the 10th annual Easter Pancake Breakfast. One hundred and
twenty volunteers hid Easter eggs, served pancakes, painted faces and helped orchestrate the multifaceted event, which is one of three key community celebrations put on by Victory Life Fellowship. Since its origin, the Easter Pancake Breakfast has nearly tripled in size, according to Victory Life Fellowship pastor Diana Tripke. “We’ve lost count,” said Tripke. “Over the years you learn what works and what doesn’t work—you just fine-tune.” Tripke said this year’s only hitch was an unexpected shortage in Easter eggs, which limited
children to 10 eggs each. Regardless, few kids seemed to notice or care as they gravitated from event to event with smiles on their faces. “They love it. We get people from out of town who come (to Kelowna) for this.” The event also provided donated clothing for those in need. Victory Life Fellowship’s next community event will happen Aug. 24 with a Back to School Bash. Tripke said there will be plenty of activities for kids and at least 750 backpacks will be given away for the upcoming school year. wpaterson@kelownacapnews.com
WADE PATERSON/CAPITAL NEWS
LUCIAN WEST, 6, shows his Easter egg collection during a hunt at the Easter Pancake Breakfast at Parkinson Recreation Centre on Friday.
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