Home »
Local school districts benefit from funding programs
Southeast Kootenay School District (SD 5) and Rocky Mountain School District (SD 6) are both getting more than $1 million in maintenance funding, part of a $198 million provincial government funding program.
The Ministry of Education announced this morning that SD5 is getting $1,002,355 in School Enhancement Program funds, including $833,758 for dust collection system upgrades at Elkford Secondary School (pictured above) and mechanical system upgrades at Rocky Mountain Elementary and roofing upgrades at Amy Woodland Elementary in Cranbrook.
SD5 is also getting $168,597 in School Bus Replacement Program funds for one replacement bus.
SD6 is getting $1,132,648 in funding, including $1,001,994 from the School Enhancement Program for boiler upgrades at Selkirk Secondary School in Kimberley and for building envelope upgrades at Windermere Elementary School.
It is also getting $130,654 from the School Bus Replacement Program for one replacement bus.
“Students deserve to learn in schools that are well maintained and operating the way they should. That’s why we’ve boosted funding to these programs by more than $20 million over last year,” said Education Minister Rob Fleming. “We are supporting B.C. schools with this funding, so students, teachers and school district staff can focus their energy to where it matters most – in the classroom.”
Under the School Enhancement Program, all school districts will receive a portion of this year’s $65-million investment. The program is funding 176 separate projects that upgrade a wide range of building systems. For example, schools might receive mechanical upgrades to improve the heating, cooling and ventilation of classrooms, or safety upgrades to fire alarm and sprinkler systems.
This year’s $12.5-million investment under the School Bus Replacement Program is buying 93 new and replacement buses in 28 school districts. The replacement buses will make travelling to school safer and more reliable for students. The new buses will add to districts’ fleets, allowing them to better serve students with new routes.
“Our government recognizes that students will be better off in an education system that is properly resourced,” said Fleming. “Increasing the funding to these programs is the first step to address the backlog of school maintenance in this province.”
See the list of school districts being funded
e-KNOW
