A2 THE FREE PRESS NEWS NOVEMBER 30, 2003 School board could have alternative to closing Duchess Park Secondary Declining enrollment has turned out to be a blessing in disguise for B.C. public schools. Even though enrollment provincewide decreased by 6,600 students over last year, the operating funding provided by the provincial education ministry to school districts remained stable at $3.79 billion. That means an “extra” $24.6 million - or $43 per student - will be shared by the province’s 60 school districts over and above the base per-student funding. In School District 57’s case, that means an extra $684,000 toward its operating expenses this year. The announcement comes as good news as the district struggles for the third year in a row to meet massive budget shortfalls, said school board chair Bill Christie. The board was also told this week that moving the administration offices from downtown to the old Telus building will save around $500,000 a year in operational costs. The $2.4 million for the purchase and renovations comes out of the district’s capital budget. The savings could throw an interesting wrinkle into Tuesday’s special school board meeting, called in order to vote on whether to consider closing Duchess Park Secondary School. The savings from moving to the new building combined with the extra per-student funding add up to just under $1.2 million toward what was a projected $5.5 million shortfall this year - more than would be saved by any one of the school closure options considered this year. John Mclnnis and Lakewood junior high schools are already being considered for closure as a cost saving measure. Their closures would result in estimated savings of just over $1 million. If Duchess Park is considered for closure instead, the district would be looking at just over $725,000 in annual operating savings. Trustee John Rustad requested the special meeting in order to put Duchess Park on the chop ping block as an alterna BC Palliative Care Benefits Program The BC Palliative Care Benefits Program was developed to support individuals of any age who have reached the terminal stage of their disease or illness and are facing the last months, weeks or days of their fives. Identifying this stage of illness is a medical decision and is determined by the individual's physician. People eligible for this program are BC residents who: • Are enrolled in MSP • Consent to the focus of care as palliative and not treatment aimed at cure. • Are living at home - home is defined as wherever the person is living excluding continuing care facilities The Benefits Program has two parts: a palliative care drug plan and a medical supplies and equipment plan Drug benefits include coverage for: • Prescription medications prescribed for pain and symptom control, and improved quality of life. • Selected over-the-counter drugs required to supplement prescription drugs and considered medically necessary for quality palliative care. A prescription is necessary for the over-the-counter drugs. If you thing that you are eligible for the BC palliative Care Benefits Program contact your physician or phone the toll-free line at 1-800-465-4911 To borrow supplies and equipment under this program, contact: The Palliative Care Coordinator Northern Interior Health Unit 1444 Edmonton Street, Prince George, BC 565-7318 - Announcements October's “Trip-a-month Club Raffle Winner" Congratulations to Orville Ottesen t Prince George Ph: 563-2551 Hospice Society Fax: 563-2503 www.hospiceprincegeorge.ca tive option to closing John Mclnnis and Lakewood junior high schools. The move proved controversial and resulted in hours of discussion last Tuesday night. Trustees had already discussed whether to consider closing Duchess and rejected the idea, but Rustad said new figures showed it should be at least discussed. 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