Qualicum School District is looking at a challenging budget process, with costs that continue to escalate and enrolment expected to decline.
The district experienced modest growth starting in 2014, with the first downturn in 2024-25, according to Ron Amos, secretary-treasurer. The decline in enrolment will likely grow with this coming year, he added, which translates into less funding from the Ministry of Education and Childcare.
“It is the demographic of our community. We talk about, and again simple terms, playground versus pickleball. We have an aging population," Amos said during a virtual public budget information meeting on Feb. 12. “We have plateaued in our enrolment and we are going to go through a period of decline.”
The lack of affordable housing and a high cost of living also contribute to families not moving into the area, he added.
“We see the apartments going up, but they’re not necessarily being filled with families,” Amos said.
The district is in the early planning stage of its budget process, which involves gathering information, public information sessions and enrolment and staffing projections.
The Ministry of Education and Childcare is expected to make an announcement on grant funding on March 14.
While student numbers decline, expenses are on the rise, including "replacement" costs, meaning substitute teachers, Amos said.
"All 60 school districts are sort of, I won’t say bemoaning, it’s recognizing that since COVID, replacement costs have escalated," Amos said. "And it’s ultimately because we’re a little bit more conscious of the cold, the flu and COVID implications.”
Although the cost of replacement continues to put pressure on school districts, Amos said it isn't something recognized by the province yet.
"They know about it but they’re not really moving towards it,” he added.
The future holds a lot of economic uncertainty, with possible upheaval on the way if threatened U.S. tariffs are put in place, Amos said.
“Nothing we can really do about it, other than recognize it for what it is and that it’s on the horizon, possibly,” Amos said.
On the positive side, Qualicum School District remains a popular destination for young teachers.
“We recruit very successfully," said Superintendent of Schools Peter Jory. "We will typically have more than 100 applications sitting, ready to go at any given time.”
The school board will hold budget meetings with stakeholder representatives in April and May, with a special public board meeting on the budget scheduled for May 20.
The board is expected to approve the budget at its May 27 meeting, with June 30 as the deadline to submit it the the ministry.
