Wednesday January 21, 2015 www.saobserver.net $1.25 GST Included
Budget deficit looming School District #83: Shortfall could run as high as $2.8 million. By Tracy hughes obServer STAFF
School trustees are staring another significant budget decline in the face for the upcoming budget year — but they aren’t sure yet how deep the cuts will have to be. In his report to the board on Tuesday, Jan. 13, secretary-treasurer Sterling olson warned trustees of a projected budget shortfall of between $1.34 million and $2.79 million for the 2015-2016 budget. The discrepancy in the projected shortfall depends on whether the negotiated salary increases for teachers will be part of the ministry’s funding formula or in addition to it. This could make a difference of more than a $1 million to the school district. As well, there are continued funding pressures from other negotiSterling Olson ated salary and benefit Secretary increases, MSP premitreaSurer um increases and higher rates for bc Hydro. olson estimates these increases will add $791,000 to the budget. continued enrolment declines also impact the school district’s bottom line. enrolment in School district #83 continues to dwindle, as the district was down an additional 50 more students than previously projected. This school year, the number of students dropped by 153 students from the previous year, continuing the downward trend for enrolment. See Enrolment on page A2
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Evacuation: Shuswap Middle School students walk from their school to South Broadview Elementary after their building was locked down following a graffiti bomb threat on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
Bomb threat culprit identified By Tracy hughes obServer STAFF
The student responsible for the prank bomb threat at Shuswap Middle School has been identified by police and school district officials just a few hours after the threat was made on Tuesday, Jan. 20. “earlier today a false bomb threat was made towards Shuswap Middle. As a precaution, students were taken to South broadview elementary while rcMP investigated the incident.” said a statement from School district #83 Tuesday. Sgt. Andrew Hunter with the Salmon Arm rcMP said police were called at 10:48 a.m. after school officials discovered someone had written a bomb threat on a bathroom wall. The school was evacuated and locked down as a precaution, while police,
This week The Reino Keski-Salmi Loppet draws hundreds of skiers to the hills Saturday. See A19 and A20. Observer photographers share tops picks of their work from the past year. Check out A14.
members of the fire department and an ambulance were brought in. “Information was quickly obtained from several sources and a student was identified. The student admitted to writing on the bathroom wall and that the bomb threat was not real,” said Hunter, who added the information was confirmed by other evidence and a locker search. Students were then taken back to the middle school to resume afternoon classes. “There are no criminal charges at this time, but the student will face disciplinary measures from the school,” said Hunter. The school district has announced that a large-scale assembly, including the rcMP and school district staff, will be held today, Wednesday, at the school.
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On guard: An RCMP vehicle sits outside Shuswap Middle School after the students are evacuated. “restorative practices will be shared and the impacts of this type of situation will be discussed,” says the statement. This was the second time in five weeks that the school had to be evacuated due to a bomb threat. on dec. 17, the school was cleared and
searched by an rcMP bombsniffing dog after a written threat was found in the boys’ washroom. The culprit in that incident has not been identified. The school district said the culprit in today’s incident is not thought to have been involved in the previous threat.
Index Opinion ....................... A6 View Point .................. A7 Life & Times ............. A14 Sports................A19-A22 Arts & Events ... A23-A25 Time Out................... A26 Vol. 108, No. 3, 44 pages