Education and Child Care
Education Minister Mike Bernier released the following statement today in response to the Vancouver School Board’s announcement of its consultation and its list of 12 schools for potential closure starting in the 2017/18 school year.
“I understand parents’ concerns about the possibility of their child’s school closing. At the same time, amalgamating schools offers parents in Vancouver more, not less. A fuller school is one that can offer more and better programs for students. It might mean access to sports and music programs that an under-capacity school just doesn’t have. The result is that resources go where they should be – into services for students, not in keeping empty classes open.
“Vancouver has reached this point because of one simple fact - since 2001 there has been a steady decline in the number of students in Vancouver. There are 10% fewer students in Vancouver – 6,500 less in fact. At the same time, record education funding in B.C. has boosted funds to Vancouver by 20%.
“Every dollar spent keeping an empty seat open is a dollar that is not spent on teachers or on educating students. Last year, the Ernst and Young report tallied up the cost of keeping those empty seats open. That cost is $37 million a year. Imagine the number of teachers that $37 million could hire. Imagine the student services that could be provided.
“It’s also important to note that the 95% capacity target in Vancouver is part of the MOU between the school district and the province signed by the VSB’s board chair. It is a goal – not a cut-off— as evidenced by a number of projects funded by the Province. Just this year we announced two seismic projects – Sir Sanford Fleming Elementary and Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith Elementary. As well, the largest seismic upgrade in B.C. history is underway at Kitsilano Secondary school – with a price tag of $57.8 million.
“I am looking forward to working with the Vancouver School District as it finalizes its long-term facilities plan. This plan is a road map forward so the district has more money for student services, not empty seats, and together we can further advance seismic upgrade in schools that have a long-term future.”
