Prince George, B.C. – Multiple reports this week that the provincial government has ordered school districts around the province to pay back savings gained through the teachers strike didn’t catch officials in Prince George off guard.

“We first knew about it in a letter that came to our Secretary-Treasurer then on to me August 29,” says Chairperson Sharel Warrington with the Prince George School Board.

Though the government allowed districts to retain 20% of savings during the strike in June, Warrington says that money won’t be available this time around because of the provincial government’s $40 per day daycare support program.

She says it’s a decision herself and her board colleagues disagree with.

“We understand the pressures on parents but our position is those dollars generated by the strike need to stay in public education and more importantly in our districts.”

Warrington doesn’t know how much that will cost the district but says the board has written a letter to the Ministry of Education to voice their concerns.

“This letter is just a culmination of other letters that we have sent in the past. That these savings should be returned to districts to meet the needs of our students.”

She admits the money would have been put to valuable use considering a recent report suggested 71% of the districts facilities are in poor condition.

“We are underfunded in terms of our capital funding – that’s a huge issue for us. Meeting the needs of our vulnerable students and rural community needs along with sustainable funding are all issues that continue to haunt us.”