B.C. school district makes further cuts in wake of $2.2M accounting error

The Kamloops-Thompson School District has made further cuts, including staff reductions, to address a budget deficit of more than $2 million caused by an accounting error.

Rhonda Nixon, superintendent for School District 73, told CBC News that the error occurred when a piece of revenue was counted twice in the district's financial forecast.

According to an audited financial statement that's publicly available on the school district's website, the error led to a $784,021 deficit in its operating fund, and a $1.27-million shortfall in the local capital fund, which is used for things like desks, computers and portables.

A budget reduction plan outlined at a September school board meeting highlighted efforts to reduce supplies and services at the district level, increase mileage fees for field trips, and halt staff professional development that require replacement staff.

When it comes to supplies and services, Nixon said they plan to stretch the necessary cuts over a period of one to three years, so nothing is shut off suddenly. 

But those cuts haven't been quite enough to avoid a projected deficit, and they have now had to make some reductions to staff as well. 

Nixon said she could not give an exact number of staff that were affected by the reductions.

"There were very few and they were at the district level and did not affect the classroom directly," she said. 

Kamloops Thompson Teachers' Association president Darcy Martin said they are pleased with the outcome, all things considered, and commended the district for its transparency.

"It's unfortunate that there was that error, but the district has been accountable," Martin told CBC News. "Compared to how things could have looked, we think that they've done a very good job of protecting students and schools and services at that level."