Christmas has arrived early for parent advisory councils (PACs) in 102 elementary and middle schools across 31 school districts, as nearly $2.4 million in playground funding is being returned to PACs that have recently purchased playground equipment for their kids.

This announcement fulfils a commitment from the $8 million for playgrounds announced in September by Premier Christy Clark and Minister of Education George Abbott, to ensure that children in all B.C. public schools have a safe place to play.

School districts were asked to identify schools that have recently purchased playground equipment with the help of PAC-raised funds, which would be eligible for up to $50,000 in reimbursements under this program. This commitment recognizes PACs for their hard work and commitment to students.

The next and final phase of this program will see approximately $3.6 million being distributed across B.C. for playground upgrades, repairs and replacements. High priority projects identified by school districts will be considered for funding next fiscal year.

Quick Facts:

• In September, the Province committed $8 million over two years for new playgrounds, reimbursements for recently purchased playgrounds with PAC contribution, and playground upgrades, repairs and replacements.
• The first round of funding supported 40 new playgrounds for elementary and middle schools that were identified as not having a playground but wanting one, for a total of $2 million.
• Adventure-style playground equipment purchased between Jan. 1, 2011 and Sept. 2, 2011 using PAC-raised funds was eligible for reimbursement under this program.
• Individual school districts will be responsible for reimbursing their PACs, once they receive the funds from the ministry. The ministry does not have the ability to distribute capital funds directly to PACs.
• Over the past 10 years, government has spent more than $1.8 billion to complete 83 new and replacement schools, 149 school additions, 26 renovations and 22 site acquisitions across British Columbia.
• In the same time, the Province has committed more than $4 billion to school capital and maintenance projects, including school playgrounds.

Learn More:

To read September's $8 million for playgrounds news release, visit: http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2011/09/premier-commits-8-million-for-school-playgrounds.html

To learn more about Education in B.C. visit: www.gov.bc.ca/bced

To read about BC's Education Plan, visit: www.bcedplan.ca

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963 (Media Line)

BACKGROUNDER

Dec. 7, 2011 Ministry of Education

Parent advisory councils reimbursed for playgrounds

The Ministry of Education asked school districts to identify public elementary and middle schools that purchased playground equipment between Jan. 1, 2011 and Sept. 2, 2011, using funds raised by parent advisory councils. The following school districts will receive a reimbursement for PACs of up to $50,000 based on PAC contribution amounts for equipment at each of these schools:

School District 8 (Kootenay Lake)

* Adam Robertson Elementary - $9,000

* Blewett Elementary - $40,000

* Jewett Elementary - $8,000

School District 20 (Kootenay-Columbia)

* Glenmerry Elementary - $46,893

School District 23 (Central Okanagan)

* Anne McClymont Primary - $10,000

School District 27 (Cariboo-Chilcotin)

* 150 Mile Elementary - $30,000

* Big Lake Elementary - $4,500

* Marie Sharpe Elementary - $40,000

* Nesika Elementary - $23,000

School District 33 (Chilliwack)

* F.G. Leary Fine Arts Elementary - $7,500

* McCammon Traditional Elementary - $25,000

* Tyson Elementary - $30,000

School District 34 (Abbotsford)

* Auguston Traditional Elementary - $30,000

* Barrowtown Elementary - $10,950

* Mt. Lehman Elementary - $8,000

School District 35 (Langley)

* Parkside Centennial Elementary - $50,000

* Uplands Elementary - $41,387

* Willoughby Elementary - $50,000

School District 36 (Surrey)

* Bear Creek Elementary - $22,508

* Cloverdale Traditional - $24,283

* Coyote Creek Elementary - $20,373

* Don Christian Elementary - $43,820

* East Kensington Elementary - $17,169

* J.T. Brown Elementary - $33,260

* James Ardiel Elementary - $14,888

* Laronde Elementary - $46,557

* Panorama Park Elementary - $9,016

* Prince Charles Elementary - $26,489

* Simon Cunningham Elementary - $38,951

* South Meridian Elementary - $7,253

* T.E. Scott Elementary - $18,290

* Woodward Hill Elementary - $24,168

School District 37 (Delta)

* Gibson Elementary - $7,000

* Holly Elementary - $19,800

* South Park Elementary - $26,500

School District 38 (Richmond)

* General Currie Elementary - $30,000

* Hamilton Elementary - $50,000

School District 39 (Vancouver)

* Champlain Heights Elementary - $8,000

* Dr. Annie B Jamieson Elementary - $50,000

* École Jules Quesnel Elementary - $10,000

* John Norquay Elementary - $13,000

* Lord Selkirk Elementary - $50,000

* Renfrew Elementary - $40,500

* Sir Alexander Mackenzie Elementary - $23,000

* Sir Matthew Begbie Elementary - $32,000

* Southlands Elementary - $20,000

* Tecumseh Annex - $30,000

* Thunderbird Elementary - $27,000

* Tyee Elementary - $50,000

* Walter Moberly Elementary - $28,000

School District 41 (Burnaby)

* Armstrong Elementary - $16,997

* Brantford Elementary - $18,143

* Brentwood Park Elementary - $32,100

* Buckingham Elementary - $12,800

* Cameron Elementary - $8,300

* Chaffey-Burke Elementary - $11,000

* Confederation Park Elementary - $30,000

* Gilmore Community - $4,447

* Lakeview Elementary - $26,000

* Rosser Elementary - $3,356

* Second Street Community - $25,904

* University Highlands Elementary - $32,000

* Westridge Elementary - $3,834

* Windsor Elementary - $13,479

School District 43 (Coquitlam)

* Anmore Elementary - $50,000

* Bramblewood Elementary - $28,711

* Leigh Elementary - $29,861

* Mary Hill Elementary - $26,748

School District 44 (North Vancouver)

* Cove Cliff Elementary - $6,829

* Sherwood Park Elementary - $5,603

School District 48 (Sea to Sky)

* Myrtle Philip Community - $4,424

School District 49 (Central Coast)

* Shearwater Elementary - $17,500

* Oweekeno Elementary - $17,500

School District 50 (Haida Gwaii)

* Tahayghen Elementary - $15,000

School District 52 (Prince Rupert)

* Pineridge Elementary - $28,451

School District 53 (Okanagan-Similkameen)

* Cawston Primary - $20,361

School District 57 (Prince George)

* École Lac des Bois - $14,541

* Heritage Elementary - $15,956

School District 58 (Nicola-Similkameen)

* Vermilion Forks Elementary - $4,709

School District 59 (Peace River South)

* Canalta Elementary - $20,000

School District 62 (Sooke)

* Crystal View Elementary - $26,837

* John Stubbs Memorial - $30,000

* Savory Elementary - $8,454

School District 63 (Saanich)

* Lochside Elementary - $46,220

School District 67 (Okanagan-Skaha)

* Giant's Head Elementary - $25,272

School District 72 (Campbell River)

* Discovery Passage Elementary - $10,254

* École des Deux Mondes - $25,631

* Oyster River Elementary - $19,318

* Sandowne Elementary - $26,686

School District 75 (Mission)

* École Christine Morrison Elementary - $39,000

* Deroche Elementary - $13,000

School District 79 (Cowichan Valley)

* Alexander Elementary - $9,000

* École Mill Bay Elementary - $24,921

* Quamichan Middle - $5,000

School District 82 (Coast Mountains)

* Cassie Hall Elementary - $12,000

School District 83 (North Okanagan - Shuswap)

* Ashton Creek Elementary - $29,000

* Bastion Elementary - $29,000

* North Shuswap Elementary - $28,000

* Salmon Arm West Elementary - $7,000

* South Broadview Elementary - $33,000

School District 93 (Conseil scolaire francophone)

* École André-Piolat (North Vancouver) - $43,400

* École Gabrielle-Roy (Surrey) - $27,356

This list of qualifying schools and PAC contribution amounts is based solely on information provided to the Ministry of Education by school districts. PACs having concerns about the dollar amounts shown above, or the eligibility of schools not listed, should contact their school district directly. School district contact information can be found at: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/apps/imcl/imclWeb/SchoolBoardSelector.do

Media Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963 (Media Line)