SD72 Holds First Meeting Of 2023

The Board of Directors for School District 72 has held its first meeting of the new year.

The Board received an update on what has kept a lot of students home over the last month or so. The flu.

Associate Superintendent Morgan Kyle provided an update that the district recently received information from the North Island Medical Health Officer Dr. Charmaine Enns that influenza was the respiratory illness most circulating within the community.

The Board says health guidance continues to be for regular hand washing, staying home when not feeling well, and for all ages to get their COVID vaccine and flu shot.

The Vancouver Island medical health officers asked the district to forward a letter to families about the availability of flu clinics and that was distributed to schools last week, so parents can expect to see that soon, if not already.

SD72 is also getting an update on the Student and Family Affordability Fund which has doled out close to $340,000 so far.

The fund helps vulnerable students and their families across the district struggling with costs due to inflation.

In August, the Ministry of Education and Child Care announced the Fund to enhance food and meal programs, offset costs for school supplies and other education-related fees, as well as help provide clothing and footwear needed for school sports and other school activities.

The district received about $607-thousand and, through consultation with Indigenous groups, school communities and parent advisory councils, determined a multi-tier approach to ensure that the funding would be used in a way that was most responsive to community needs.

So far, $33,000 has been spent on school supplies, $261,000 for school-based initiatives - needs specific to certain schools, such as providing seasonally appropriate clothing, bus passes or helping with medical and dental expenses.

As well, heading into the winter break, 300 $100 Quality Foods gift cards were distributed to help 282 students across the district and $15,500 was distributed to support local Indigenous Nations with food hampers or community meals.