A Present To School Districts

By 250 News

Prince George, B.C. -  As B.C. students begin their two-week Christmas break, the Ministry of Education is out with its version of a present: announcing that funding has hit a new high of $8,341 per-student for 2010-2011.

That is an increase of $159 per pupil over the 2009-2010 operating grants to the province's 60 school districts.  In School District 57, there are 13,816 full-time students registered, up 46 students over last year, meaning the operating grant to District 57 will increase just under $1-million dollars this year to almost $121-million dollars.

Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid says, "We are pleased to be able to share $47-million dollars across all districts.  This is money we held back because usually more students show up in September than districts anticipate."

"However this year, we have 1,100 fewer students than districts anticipated in March so we have more money available for each child in our system."

MacDiarmid points out, "This government invests $24.2-million dollars every school day for a total of $4.663-billion this year."

Overall, operating funding for the current school year has increased $112-million dollars:  $58-million for full-day kindergarten and $54-million to fully fund teachers' wage settlements.  In addition, the minister says 23 school districts experiencing declining enrolment are sharing more than $13-million dollars in funding protection to ensure they don't receive less than they did in 2009.

To see the new enrolment and funding information for your child's school district in 2010-11, go to: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/news/docs/2010/fs_OperatingGrants2010-11.pdf

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