Daycares hit with hefty rent hike; SCHOOL DISTRICT #8: In order to bring fairness to system, local board passes rent increase to three regional facilities
Nelson Daily News
May 10 2010
By: Colin Payne

In an effort to meet cost pressures, Kootenay Lake School District No. 8 (SD8) is increasing the rents for three West Kootenay daycare facilities that will be forced to either raise rents or close their doors.

In October SD8 was alerted that there were inequalities in the rents paid by various community groups that use spaces owned by the district and the board of trustees passed a motion that situation should be remedied.

As a result, three daycares in Nelson, Salmo and Creston will see increases by as much as $14,000 in their monthly rent payments.

Care to Learn Childrens' Centre in Nelson and Salmo Childrens' Centre in Salmo will see their rents nearly doubled, and a child care facility for infants and toddlers in Creston will go from paying next to no rent to paying $14,000 a month.

SD8 superintendent, Pat Dooley said the district is spending a significant amount of money on the upkeep of the buildings, which it can no longer afford to pay….

Stephanie Fischer, executive director of Kootenay Kids, which runs the three daycares, said her organization is going to have to levy a seven to 10 per cent increase in fees if the rents go up….

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