Students are going to have to ramp up their bake sales this year.

Parent advisory councils in the Sooke School District estimate they’ve lost $100,000 after provincial gaming grants were cut in half. PAC funding typically underwrites extracurricular activities such as field trips, sports gear and art supplies.

“PACs support the educational experience of children. It’s a way for parents to have meaningful involvement in their child’s education. It’s all been reduced,” said Kelly Dvorak, president of the Sooke Parents Educational Advisory Council (SPEAC). “We’re all feeling the cuts. We’re all struggling now.”

In early September the government announced it was reducing gaming grants to $10 from $20 per student. It also announced if a PAC already received $20 per student in bingo money, it would not get a gaming grant.

Dvorak said the gaming money was the great equalizer for elementary schools — some have better fundraising resources than others. The cuts will encourage “have” and “have not” elementaries, she said.

“So many kids can’t augment their education by fundraising,” Dvorak said

Brenda Cyr, PAC president for Dunsmuir middle school, said their PAC faces some tough choices.

Normally they would give about $30,000 toward field trips, sports equipment and the theatre program. This year they have $11,000, she said.

“We’re in shock, disbelief and anger,” Cyr said. “And not just because of PAC cuts, but from the broad cuts at every level to schools. It’s not just the PACs that are suffering.”

Cyr said gaming grants were meant to bridge the gap when districts could no longer afford to fund extracurricular events.

“The bottom line is we’ve had enough. For years now parents have rolled up their sleeves and got down to fundraising,” she said. “Education of youth is a community issue. If we want a generation of poorly educated people, that’s what we are going to get.”

editor@goldstreamgazette.com