SUMMERLAND REVIEW THE VOICE OF OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 1908
VOLUME
66
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ISSUE
NO.
21
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S U M M E R L A N D,
WWW.SUMMERLANDREVIEW.COM
B.C.
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T H U R S D AY,
M AY
23,
2013
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24
PA G E S
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$1.15
INCLUDING
GST
WHAT’S INSIDE:
Vintage vehicles
Restored and modified cars and trucks were on display at the annual Blossom Run Show ’n’ Shine on Saturday.
Page 11
Voter turnout
Nearly half of registered voters did not cast ballots in last week’s provincial election.
Page 8
Ready for action
The 31st annual Summerland Action Festival will feature plenty of sports and entertainment.
Page 9
Rabies warning
Precautions are urged to reduce the risk of exposure to rabies this summer.
Page 2
Soccer action
Soccer teams in the region continue to face each other in league action.
Page 15
YOUR SMILE Could you imagine a world without hypothetical situations?
First aid
John Arendt Summerland Review
Kyra Soo, left, and Rayman Klar learn the basics of cardiopulmonary resuscitation during one of the sessions at hearts@school on Tuesday. The one-day event for Grade 6 students was held in Penticton.
School budget cut Board accesses reserves to cope with funding shortfall of $1.5M by John Arendt In order to cope with a $1.5 million funding shortfall, the Okanagan Skaha School District dipped into accumulated savings and reserves and made additional cuts to the budget. The preliminary operating budget for the 2013 to 2014 school year was
approved at a public board meeting earlier this month. The board used $900,000 in accumulated savings and reserves. The remainder, $600,000, comes from numerous reductions. “Our long-term planning strategy has again allowed us to mitigate the effects of a funding shortage; however reductions to services and programs are still necessary this year,” said Ginny Manning, chair of the school board.
The $600,000 in cuts came from a number of measures. The reductions include cuts to the gifted program, the deaf and hard of hearing teacher, helping teachers, the behaviour program and administration. Other efforts include clerical reductions worth $70,000, maintenance and custodial reductions worth $88,000 and a reduction in school and district supply, equipment and travel budgets to trim $190,300 from the
budget. Summerland school trustee Linda Van Alphen, who is also the chair of the school board’s finance and management committee, said enrolment in the school district is forecast to drop by 200 to 250 students. The declining enrolment is at the high school and upper middle school levels. According to school district information, elementary enrolment has shown signs of levelling
off, but future enrolment drops in higher grades are anticipated. “It will be harder for high schools to provide different programs to the students,” she said. “Our high schools will have to get far more creative.” She said methods including video conferencing and other technological measures could be used to provide education to students at the various high schools in the school district. See FUTURE Page 3
Community resource centre to open by John Arendt
A new community resource centre, coordinating social services in Summerland, will open later this month, providing access to information and services for those in need. John Bubb of Summerland
United Church, who has worked with the project, said it will not be an additional social service for the community. “We’re providing information and space for professionals to use,” he said. “The only direct service we
provide is the food bank.” Mary Ellen Thompson, administrative assistant at the centre, said the service is one of advocacy for those in need and coordinating information about the various social services which are available.
“If they’re having problems, this could be a good place to start,” she said. The renovation work to the church’s basement includes a main reception area, office space and an expanded food bank. See ELEVATOR Page 3