School District No. 5 (SD5) recently posted a short survey on their website asking the public about their education priorities in advance of the May 14 election. The survey was forwarded to parents and was in addition to a public consultation held by the board on April 29.

According to Board Chair, Frank Lento, this feedback helped define the educational platform candidates would be asked by SD5 to support in the upcoming election.

“We posted for one week and had 114 respondents, most of whom identified themselves as a parent or guardian,” says Lento. “It’s really just a snapshot, but it confirms what we as a board have known to be priorities – that is, funding.”

Survey results showed overwhelming support for government to fully fund increases as a result of inflation to expenses such as medical plans and utilities, as well as new costs coming from government-mandated programming such as Carbon Offsets, ERASE Anti-bullying Program, the BC Education Plan, etc. Funding for these cost pressures is strongly advocated for by the BC School Trustees Association (BCSTA) and boards across the province.

“There’s been a serious decline in resources for basic public education over the past decade,” says Lento, “and that’s resulted in aging facilities, larger classroom sizes and fewer support staff for students. It’s not coincidental that these were the top education priorities identified in our survey.”

While Lento understands that government has many competing demands, he believes that inadequate funding by government is short sighted and weakens B.C.’s economic future.

“Every year our students are moving up a grade or they’re graduating. Every day we either provide kids with the education they deserve or we short-change their efforts with inadequate funding for schools. Our provincial government, whichever party wins the next election, must choose to make education an adequate and stable investment to secure a bright future for our kids.”

Full survey results can be found at www.sd5.bc.ca.

SD5

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