HITTING THE STREET | Residents express concerns about genetically modified organisms [A7]
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attached to students and there is less of them, you get less money,” The axe has dropped in the said Chris Coers, Enderby trustee. Declining enrolment is a result North Okanagan-Shuswap School of aging demographics, says District. Trustees slashed programs and Falkland trustee Debbie Evans. “There are only a few districts staff positions Tuesday to address in B.C. seeing increases a $1.8 million shortfall and that’s where there is for the coming school employment growth and year. families moving in,” she “It’s always difficult said. when you are having to District revenue cut money,” said Laurie is expected to drop by Myers, Armstrong $1.32 million and costs trustee. will climb by $531,000. Principal and viceLaurie Myers Coers says there is no principal time will be provincial assistance to reduced so they can help with inflationary teach more and there will be 12 teachers lost as a result demands such as fuel, electricity and employee benefits. of dropping enrolment. “We have to come up with All supply budgets will be additional money to fund those.” trimmed. Trustees will continue to look Storefront schools in Armstrong, Enderby, Salmon at the 2013/14 budget prior to it Arm and Sicamous are also being being formally adopted May 14. With deficits becoming an restructured. Storefront schools, which annual situation, Coers says the assist adult learners, were target- district has contacted the Ministry ed because of rising costs and a of Education and warned that program delivery is at risk. decline in students. “We have done what we can “Hopefully in the next year or so, these numbers will increase with efficiencies,” she said. The North Okanagan-Shuswap so we can again afford to add to the program,” said Bobbi Johnson, Teachers Association believes there were some budget options chairperson. A financial analysis indicates overlooked by the district. “Very few districts have nine that storefront, adult, continuing education programs are operating trustees and with declining enrolment, trustees need to look at the with a $520,000 deficit. “It’s an important part of the costs associated with the two extra community but it’s not in our kin- trustees in terms of actual salary dergarten to Grade 12 mandate,” and costs of travel and conferences,” said Lynda Bennett, NOSTA said Myers. A major factor in the overall president. “Our district has a higher probudget is the continuing trend of portion of administrators to teachdecreased enrolment. Enrolment is anticipated to ers, in other words, other districts drop about 240 students per year manage with less administrators. for the next four or five years. The To have principals and vice princidistrict’s student population has pals taking on teacher work is not shrunk by 25 per cent in the last a huge cost savings, more would be saved by decreasing the numdecade. “When (provincial) funding is ber of administrators.” RICHARD ROLKE
Morning Star Staff
SILVER STAR MOUNTAIN RESORT PHOTO
Super G-Spa, created by Ted Spearins (a ski racer enjoying a hot tub) soars over spectators in the Dummy Gelunde at Silver Star Mountain Resort Sunday for the final day of the season. Super G-Spa won biggest air, earning Spearins an adult season pass for next season. Silver Star opens for the summer June 22.
No criminal charges in shooting RCMP-involved shooting of Mitchell that happened shortly RCMP officers involved in the after noon on May 30, 2012. fatal shooting of a former Vernon Mitchell, who attended high resident will not face criminal school and played minor sports charges. in Vernon, had been the subject Investigators with the of a public warning by Burnaby Vancouver Police Major RCMP in relation to a Crime Section concluded pair of recent shootings there is no evidence to supin which two people port charges against any of were killed and another the officers involved in the wounded. May 30, 2012 shooting of After the warning, a Angus David Mitchell in tip was called to Ridge Maple Ridge. Meadows RCMP by a “We will not be forcitizen saying Mitchell’s warding a report to Angus Mitchell van was on an isolated Crown counsel,” stated road in Maple Ridge. the Vancouver Police The RCMP Lower Department in a release. Mainland district emergency Vancouver Police were called response team immediately attendto handle the investigation into ed the scene. ROGER KNOX
Morning Star Staff
VERNON TOYOTA
The van and Mitchell were located and shots were fired. Mitchell was airlifted to hospital where he was later pronounced dead. No RCMP officers were injured and a rifle was seized at the scene. The rifle was later confirmed as the weapon used in the Burnaby shootings. The RCMP asked for the review of the incident by Vancouver Police. “The review of the shooting has been provided to the coroners office for an inquest that will be held allowing for public presentation of evidence to examine the circumstances surrounding this death,” stated Vancouver Police in its release. The inquest is slated to begin Nov. 5.
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