Kamloops-Thompson School District begins new year with renewed sense of normalcy

KAMLOOPS — Compared to the COVID-19 and wildfire situations surrounding the start of last school year, School District 73 says this September feels a little less unsettled.

“At this time last year, 20 per cent of our jurisdiction was either on fire evacuation alert or order. We had an evacuation plan that went to the board at this board meeting — and we were all really not sure with COVID,” explains Superintendent Rhonda Nixon.

Parents and caregivers outside of Dufferin Elementary who spoke with CFJC crews Tuesday (Sept. 6) say kids were buzzing with the usual first-day excitement, while for them, the sense of routine was a relief.

“It feels so normal. I just cross my fingers that everything will stay normal,” said one mother. “I did load them up with their immunity vitamins and gummies today so we’re going to stay in front of that.’

“We live close by, so just walking down the hill here to the school we’re like, ‘Wow, this feels so comfortable. This feels so good. I’m excited to see all my friends again.’ They chatted about it the whole way down,” another parent explained. “It was really great.”

One father said it was nice to have a normal feeling with the pandemic situation less prevalent. “It was crazy to see the teachers without masks — forgot what they looked like underneath them. It’s awesome.”

Another change the district has for this year is $1.9 million in one-time provincial funding. The recently announced money is part of the B.C. government’s recent plans to provide $60 million province-wide. All meant to ease inflation impacts on back to school costs for families.

“We’re also looking forward to simply being able to ensure that those families who might need help with fees, help with school supplies, food security, additional nutrition during the day for their children — we can definitely provide it,” notes Nixon, who adds that the district was already helping with many of those areas, but the money does provide some financial cushioning to expand their efforts.

Space-wise, it’s somewhat less congested in the Kamloops-Thompson District, thanks to the reopening of Ralph Bell Elementary and Valleyview Secondary expansion.

However, Nixon says the student population is still growing at a rate of one elementary school per year. “When I look at enrollment, the increases today — I was just in a meeting looking at the enrollment — we still have our pressures,” she adds. “We’re facing them positively. But certainly we are short of space.”

Specific enrollment numbers aren’t available quite yet, but the district expects part of the ‘normal routine’ of this year will include advocating for more schools to be built in the Kamloops-Thompson area.