Students in the Okanagan-Skaha School District will benefit from over $1 million in provincial funding for school upgrade projects and classroom supplies, MLA Dan Ashton announced today on behalf of Education Minister Mike Bernier.

The district will extend the life of three schools with $773,500 in School Enhancement Program funding to upgrade heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, boilers, heat pumps, direct digital control systems and electrical systems at Kaleden Elementary, Columbia Elementary and Princess Margaret Secondary schools. Every school district will receive a portion of this year’s $53-million investment, supporting 223 projects.

Under the new Student Learning Grant, the district will receive $289,431 to purchase classroom equipment and supplies such as textbooks, lab equipment and art supplies. The district will begin back-to-school planning with parents and teachers now to determine how best to use the one-time funding to reduce costs for parents and help teachers deliver B.C.’s new curriculum. This one-time grant is providing school districts with a total of $27.4 million.

As a result of B.C.’s strong economy and balanced budget, the Government of British Columbia is able to support record funding increases for students and B.C.’s education system. Budget 2017 commits an additional $740 million in operating funds over the next three years. Combined with $400 million in previously announced budget increases, this means an additional $1.1 billion in funding will benefit the K-12 system over the next three years. In addition, Budget 2017 supports $2 billion in capital spending to upgrade or build new schools over the next three years. 

Quotes:

Dan Ashton, MLA for Penticton –

“This investment in school infrastructure and classroom supplies fits well with the government’s focus on ensuring the students have what they need to continue to be the best. This funding will go far in providing students in our region with the educational facilities they need to in order to learn and succeed.”

Linda Larson, MLA for Boundary-Similkameen –

“Ensuring Okanagan students and staff learn and work in high-quality environments is a priority. Thanks to this government’s balanced budget, we are able to just that. This School Enhancement Program funding will benefit the teachers, staff, and especially the students of the district.”

Quick Facts:

• In total, government is investing $95 million under these programs to ensure students have the services, environment and tools they need to succeed. Every school district in B.C. will receive a portion of this funding.
• Including today’s announcement, government has invested a total of $153 million under the School Enhancement Program since it was launched in 2014. In total, almost 623 school improvement projects have been approved under the program.
• The Student Learning Grant provides one-time funding to help schools and teachers with the cost of classroom tools and equipment to support B.C.’s new curriculum. Of the $29.4-million grant, school districts are receiving a total of $27.4 million and independent schools are receiving $2 million.
• Each year, government spends about $5 million in Carbon Neutral Capital Program funding for school projects that cut greenhouse gas emissions.
• Each year, government provides about $10 million in School Bus Replacement Program funding to help school districts purchase new and replacement school buses to ensure students have access to safe and reliable transportation.

Learn More:

Student Learning Grant: http://ow.ly/ibEm309kJbQ

Carbon Neutral Capital Program: http://ow.ly/7rfi309kMdZ

School Capital Planning: http://ow.ly/slzM309kJwS

B.C.’s new curriculum: https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/