Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools 2020-21 annual amended budget projects a $1.4-million operating fund loss mainly due to families choosing online, distributed learning over sending their kids to attend school in person. The provincial funding rate per student is $1,460 less for distributed learning (DL) than the in-person, or regular, funding rate. Another contributing factor, grades 10-12 students are taking fewer courses, which the district has responded to by adding staffing to help students meet grade level, says a Feb. 10 staff report. The district projected 137 K-9 students and 59 grades 10-12 students to enrol in DL this school year. The actual enrolment in DL turned out to be 831 for K-9 and 81 for grades 10-12. The province s regular per student rate for 2020-21 is $7,560, $6,100 for DL and $250 for homeschooling. Fifty-five students switched to homeschool.