Funding has increased by $84 million for B.C. classrooms

Editor:

This is in response to a letter from the president of the Richmond District Parents’ Association regarding education funding in B.C. (Letters, Oct. 31).

This year, funding has been increased by $84 million for B.C. classrooms. The focus is on providing for the most vulnerable students through CommunityLINK, Aboriginal programs and expanding the province’s early learning program.

Since 2000/01, School District 38 has seen enrolment decrease by an estimated 7.2 per cent while annual operating funding has increased by about 17 per cent—an estimated increase in per pupil funding of $1,607 or 26.2 per cent.

Over the same period almost $72 million has been earmarked for seismic and capital projects which include one new school, two replacement schools and four major additions. The ministry has also asked school districts to make use of nearly $100 million in unspent facility grants. As of March 31, 2009, the Richmond School District had $1.5 million in unused monies.

In addition, the government has ensured that parent advisory councils are still being funded. In fact, approximately 1,650 PACs and 50 DPACs will share $7.6 million this year.

Everyone needs to work together to find ways to make the additional dollars that are being provided work for students in the classroom.

Ministry of Education

Province of B.C.

Editor’s note: Normally we don’t publish letters not signed by an individual, but the minister, who would normally sign the letter, is recovering from a serious illness, so the letter is credited to the ministry.

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