The Kamloops-Thompson School District spent about $3.2 million on aboriginal support services last year.

Board Chair Kathleen Karpuk says the funding can be an important piece in encouraging students success. “Of the 3.2 million, we spend $2.8 million on salaries and benefits for those extra support staff that we have in place. We also have language teachers and resource teachers that we have in place for curriculum.”

Karpuk says about 90 thousand dollars was left over which gets added to this year’s budget. “Based on per pupil funding, we put in supports like aboriginal education workers who provide cultural support within classrooms. We provide additional family counsellors. We have other support workers that are there. Basically to help those students to make sure that they succeed.”

Karpuk says it’s important funding as the school board aims to bring the aboriginal graduation rate up to the same level as everybody else. “[It is] extra money that the province gives the school district for aboriginal students to recognize that they very often need extra assistance in order to succeed in school. So we are given $3.2 million.”