A smaller than anticipated decline in students means the Kamloops-Thompson School District will forgo a significant government grant.

But an administrator said Friday the shortfall will likely be made up in December by a holdback grant from the Ministry of Education distributed among districts.

Kamloops-Thompson school district has been dependent on the enrolment decline funding for several years. But secretary-treasurer Kelvin Stretch said Friday the district, which declined by fewer than 80 students, won’t receive the grant this year.

In order to qualify, a district’s student population must decline by more than one per cent. That would translate here into about 145 students.

“It’s really hard to manage a decline,” Stretch said.

While the district will feel the loss of the grant, Stretch said the additional students help the budget. The district also expects to receive extra funding in December held back by the ministry.