Kootenay Lake School District 8 is forecasting fewer students and lower funding in the 2026-27 school year.
Secretary-treasurer Cathy MacArthur told trustees at the March 10 school board meeting that enrolment is projected to decline by 109 students next year, a drop of about 2.4 per cent.
“We do this projection in February and we submit our projection for enrollment to the Ministry by February 15th,” said MacArthur.
The trend affects more than just SD8, with MacArthur noting the projections align with what is happening provincewide.
“That is the kind of trend that we’ve heard is happening in other school districts in our region and many other school districts across the province. So we’re not alone in that level of decline.”
She said the decline will affect provincial operating funding tied to student numbers.
Based on current funding rates from the 2025-26 school year, the district estimates a decrease of about $938,000 in basic enrolment funding.
MacArthur said there is also an expected drop in funding tied to students with additional needs.
“Based on the current year rates for the student funding, projects a $983,000 decrease for basic enrollments and actually a $358,000 decrease for our unique learners for our special our unique student needs level 1, 2, 3 and Indigenous education.”
Together, those reductions amount to about $1.3 million.
However, she explained the province provides additional supports when enrolment falls significantly.
MacArthur said the district expects to receive about $233,000 in enrolment-decline funding, which is triggered when school-age enrolment falls by more than one per cent.
Another $173,000 is expected through provincial funding protection, which she said prevents operating grants from dropping by more than 1.5 per cent year over year.
“So the net difference would be, based on the 2025 and 2026 rates, about $9,000 to $28,000. Sometime later this month, we will be receiving the new rates for 2026 and 2027 and that’s what we will be using along with our enrollments to prepare our preliminary budget.”
The district is also seeking public input as part of its budgeting process.
A survey is available on SD8’s website. Feedback will help shape the draft budget, which is scheduled to be presented at the next school board meeting in April.
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