School District 72's chair, Kat Eddy, acknowledged the district's broader fiscal reality during the school board meeting on May 13.
"As trustees, we are legally required under the school act to pass a balanced budget each year," she said. "This is a serious responsibility, and while it's necessary, it often means that we are faced with difficult decisions, decisions that must be both financially responsible and rooted in our commitment to student success."
Eddy said the school board is operating on a deficit budget and is not the only district in the province doing so. One of the main reasons in SD72's case is that the district is not expecting student growth.
"This is not a temporary issue. It will continue to shape how we plan and operate well into the future. It demands long-term thinking, focused leadership, and shared commitment to what matters most: our students," Eddy said. "As trustees, we are guided by the principles of equity by our strategic priorities and by the unwavering belief that students must remain at the centre of every decision we make, regardless of the financial pressure we face. Our goals remain clear to ensure that every learner in our district receives the support they need to thrive."
Eddy mentioned how advocacy has been strong in the community, with the Campbell River Teacher's Association, the Campbell River Principals and Vice Principals Association, and various District Parent Advisory Councils have been working on launching public campaigns for the province to change its model for funding school districts.
"British Columbia currently ranks as the second-lowest funded public K to 12 education system in Canada, and while that's been a long-standing concern, it's becoming more urgent," said Eddy. "Many districts, especially smaller ones like ours, are grappling with rising costs, the impacts of inflation, and a growing need for student mental health, behavioural and learning supports."
In 2016, a report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives' BC office, the province was only ahead of Alberta on funding schools. Funding has dropped by 25 per cent between 2001 and 2016, and was spending nearly $1,000 less per student than the national average.
In a report published by the Fraser Institute in 2024, British Columbia recorded the fourth-highest growth in adjusted per-student spending, but ranked eighth in per-student spending in the country. In the same report, British Columbia spent the least operational spending per student in public schools in the 2021-22 school year, at $13,034.
More recently, the provincial government released their budget on March 4, where it listed education as one of its priorities.
The BC School Trustee's Association (BCSTA) released a statement that it was pleased to see stable funding for the K-12 public education system, however, acknowledged that financial pressures on boards of education still exist, and are ever-increasing.
"For years now, boards of education have been managing their finite resources to best serve their community. We have advocated with them for increased funding for capital and deferred maintenance investments, recruitment and retention of teachers and support staff and supports for learners with diverse abilities and learners with disabilities. While we fully realize the uncertain economic times we are living in, boards will struggle to manage with the status quo.
We see the hard work and effort that went into creating Budget 2025 while trying to best mitigate the unjustified tariffs recently levied upon Canada by the United States. There is no doubt that these tariffs will have significant effects on BC’s economy. In the face of these unprovoked economic attacks, ongoing political uncertainty, and the threats to Canadian sovereignty, stable investments in students are stable investments in our future with guaranteed returns. This is how we protect our economy and protect our future," said the statement.
Eddy said that immigration to higher population centres has drawn attention to some of the systemic issues public education in British Columbia is facing. However, in districts like SD72, which is not growing, the strain is real.
"We recognize that the province is facing its own economic pressures, but let me be clear: stable, sufficient and sustainable investment in public education is not optional; it's essential. If funding does not reflect the actual cost of delivering education today, our ability to maintain quality services for students and families will be increasingly at risk," she said. "In the face of all these challenges, I want to reaffirm this board's commitment to transparency, collaboration and student-centred governance. We know the choices ahead will not be easy, but we will approach them with integrity, with humility and with deep respect for the voices of our staff, our partners, our families, and most importantly our students."
