Fewer Nanaimo schools are receiving upgrades that were planned for this summer.

David Green, secretary-treasurer with Nanaimo school district, said the province usually provides about $2.7 million through an annual facilities grant, a special fund intended for maintenance and repair of schools.

In a typical year, about one-quarter of the funds are received by now, but the district hasn’t received any money since April.

That’s problematic because many of theprojects are completed over the summer.

Green said funding is expected after the province releases its budget in September, but that districts are being urged to either hold off on renovation projects or use reserves because grants could be reduced.

Nanaimo district has scaled back its maintenance and repair projects to about two-thirds of what was previously planned.

“The issue really is, ‘are we going to receive any money and when?’” Green said. “We’re looking at about $1.5 million instead of $2.7 million.”

Major projects this year were to include a $300,000 upgrade to Rock City Elementary School’s heating and ventilation system; $1 million for roofing projects at various schools; and washroom renovations at Departure Bay, Ladysmith, Pauline Haaer and Seaview elementary schools.

Painting, flooring replacement, replacing pea gravel on playgrounds, portable maintenance and repairs and technology upgrades are also prioritized.

The list of projects was approved by Nanaimo trustees in February.

Green said the district is going with about $400,000 in roofing projects, $50,000 less in flooring replacements, a washroom renovation at Seaview, a staff room upgrade at Rutherford Elementary School and several smaller projects.

“These are projects we plan to get finished by the end of September,” he said. “We feel comfortable with spending that, it’s a conservative amount of money.”

Green said if the amount is similar to last year, the district can go then forward and complete the other projects on the list.

An Education Ministry spokesman said all government programs, including the annual facilities grant doled out to school districts, are under review and the province is looking at announcing a budget Sept. 1. The budget is being announced late this year due to the May election.

reporter@nanaimobulletin.com