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Province Returns Education Money To School Districts

Victoria – BC giving $25 million back in education funding.

The province has announced it is returning $25 million in administrative savings from school districts to “frontline services for students.” Districts will be allowed to use the money for things like hiring new teachers or funding programs. Surrey’s school district is getting $3.1 million, while Vancouver is getting $2.2 million.

The BCTF – BC Teachers Federation and various Fraser Valley School Districts and MLA’s have released their own media releases on the money:

BCTF congratulates education stakeholders as government returns some funding it took away

As the government announced the return of a $25 million cut it placed on school districts, BCTF President Jim Iker praised teachers, students, parents, and school trustees who have spoken out and campaigned for months to convince this government to address BC’s education funding crisis. Iker said he appreciates the announcement and it shows the government is listening to the building public pressure.
“Public advocacy clearly works,” said Iker. “The return of this $25 million cut is an important turning point for public education as it shows the government is feeling the pressure one year out from a provincial election. While the returned funding will not solve the funding crisis facing our schools, it will bring some much needed relief. Parents, students, teachers, and trustees need to keep the pressure up.”
The $25 million returned to school districts in today’s announcement originates from the 2015 budget when the government announced a plan to force school districts to cut $29 million in 2015, and a further $25 million in 2016. The target of these cuts was “administrative savings,” but the result has been more school closures, fewer education assistants, cuts to specialist teachers, and reduced school bus service.
“I think folks in the school system will feel some relief today,” said Iker. “While we are appreciative that the government is making this move, it should never have happened in the first place. It’s incumbent upon teachers, parent groups, and school trustees to keep reaching out to government MLAs to ensure they understand the depth of the crisis, and commit to taking more action.”
Iker pointed to two examples where the government can find more money for public education; reversing 2015’s tax cut to BC’s wealthiest and reducing or eliminating altogether the funding flowing to private schools in BC.
“In 2015, the government gave BC’s wealthiest few a tax cut worth over $200 million. In 2016, private school funding hit an all-time high of $358 million, including subsidies for elite prep schools. BC’s richest residents don’t need tax breaks and private school giveaways at the expense of public education. It’s time for the government to reinvest in public schools.”

 

ABBOTSFORD – The provincial government is redirecting $846,484 in administrative savings back to School District 34 to help it deal with local cost pressures and provide front line services for students.

The school district can use this funding as it sees fit – such as ongoing classroom programs, hiring new teachers, or for busing.

“School districts across the province, including Abbotsford School District, have worked diligently to reduce administrative costs,” Abbotsford South MLA Darryl Plecas said. “We can now return these savings into front-line services for students.”

Districts made real efforts to reduce spending on their administration costs – and those efforts have made it possible to help flow those resources into classrooms and services for students. The amount of money being left with districts is equal to the Year 2 of Administrative savings districts were asked to find.

“Students can really benefit from these redirected savings,” Abbotsford-Mission MLA Simon Gibson said. “This money can go into classroom supports and services directly benefitting students.”

School districts, including Abbotsford School District 34, have been informed that they will not have to pay their share of $25 million worth of provincial charges this year, and instead can redirect that money into front-line services for students.

MISSION – The provincial government is redirecting $280,146 in administrative savings back to School District 75 to help it deal with local cost pressures and provide front line services for students.

The school district can use this funding as it sees fit – such as ongoing classroom programs, hiring new teachers, or for busing.

“School Districts, including Mission, have worked diligently to reduce administrative costs,” Abbotsford-Mission MLA Simon Gibson said. “We’re committed to ensuring that students directly receive the maximum amount of B.C.’s education funding and with the return of these savings, districts can choose to invest directly in front-line services for students.”

Districts made real efforts to reduce spending on their administration costs – and those efforts have made it possible to help flow those resources into classrooms and services for students. The amount of money being left with districts is equal to the Year 2 of Administrative savings districts were asked to find.

“Returning these savings means the school board can reinvest directly into front-line services that benefit students,” Maple Ridge-Mission MLA Marc Dalton said. “These are unexpected and unbudgeted dollars that the school district is receiving and I’m confident it will be a real help.”

School districts, including Mission School District 75, have been informed that they will not have to pay their share of $25 million worth of provincial charges this year, and instead can redirect that money into front-line services for students.

CHILLIWACK – The provincial government is redirecting $603,535 in administrative savings back to School District 33 to help it deal with local cost pressures and provide front line services for students.

The school district can use this funding as it sees fit – such as ongoing classroom programs, hiring new teachers, or for busing.

“We’ve made the commitment to ensuring students are receiving the maximum amount of B.C.’s education funding,” Chilliwack MLA John Martin said. “Chilliwack School District has diligently reduced administrative costs and these savings can benefit students directly.”

Districts made real efforts to reduce spending on their administration costs – and those efforts have made it possible to help flow those resources into classrooms and services for students. The amount of money being left with districts is equal to the Year 2 of Administrative savings districts were asked to find.

“These savings can really benefit students as they can be used for classroom and front-line instruction,” Chilliwack-Hope MLA Laurie Throness said.

School districts, including Chilliwack School District 33, have been informed that they will not have to pay their share of $25 million worth of provincial charges this year, and instead can redirect that money into frontline services for students.

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