New curriculum coming
There may soon be changes to Squamish students' courses, as the province is rolling out a new curriculum throughout all of B.C., including the Sea to Sky School District.
The Ministry of Education has already implemented provincewide changes to Grade 10 courses, with changes to Grades 11 and 12 to be effective on July 1, 2019.
The new curriculum is expected to emphasize personalized learning, which dovetails with the Sea to Sky School District's proposal of implementing flexible schedules across all grades.
Bus pullout and trail complete
The District of Squamish has completed work on the bus pullout and trail at Howe Sound Secondary, said Asst. Secretary Ralph Hughes.
During the summer, construction crews carved out a pullout by the school on Buckley Avenue, which is intended to prevent cars from backing up whenever a bus stops.
A trail was also made to provide a walking space between Howe Sound and Squamish Elementary.
Crews are still working on replacing an aging sewer lift station beside the school.
A little extra money from the province
The Ministry of Education is giving a two-per-cent increase of funding per student to the Sea to Sky School District this year, which is hoped to offset the increased cost of teachers.
That adds $122 to the amount of cash the province gives to the school district for each student.
As a result, $7,423 will be given per student for the 2018 to 2019 school year. Last academic year, this amount was $7,301.
This translates into an extra $600,606 across all schools in the Sea to Sky.
Assistant secretary-treasurer Ralph Hughes says that funds will be distributed to all schools, with a little extra going those with a student population between 300 and 375.
It's hoped this will help offset the increased cost of teachers, who on average cost $97,200, up from $94,895 last year, benefits included.
New portable at Myrtle Philip
In order to deal with the growing student population, officials hope to have a new portable at Myrtle Philip operational by the end of October.
Supt. Lisa McCullough estimates that portables can cost between 200,000 to $400,000, depending on whether the facilities are hooked up to plumbing and other utilities.
