HAZELTON – Stikine MLA Doug Donaldson says students in Smithers will benefit from safer, more efficient schools thanks to over $926,000 in provincial funding for school upgrade projects in the Bulkley Valley School District.

“Students and families in northern, rural communities deserve to know that schools are well-maintained,” said Donaldson. “After years of indifference towards education, our government is committed to fostering safe and comfortable learning environments for our children. Students, staff and families at Muheim Elementary are set to benefit from this commitment.”

Bulkley Valley School District (SD 54) is receiving $926,320 in funding for school maintenance projects at Muheim Elementary, including both phase one and two of HVAC upgrades.

These funding programs are part of a $206 million provincial investment under the Annual Facilities Grant, School Enhancement Program, Carbon Neutral Capital Program and Bus Replacement Program, to ensure students have well-maintained learning environments and bus services that are safe, comfortable and efficient. This year’s funding is a $500,000 increase from the previous year, and a $20.6 million increase from 2016/17.

Since September 2017, the New Democrat government has approved over $2.8 million for school upgrades in the district, including over $1.9 million for HVAC and dust collector upgrades at Houston Secondary.

The New Democrat government has delivered historic levels of funding to B.C. schools, including the biggest operative and capital budgets in B.C. history, an extra $1-billion in classroom funding over 2016/17, $2.7-billion over three years to build, seismically upgrade and expand K-12 schools, and a new annual $5-million playground fund.

Learn More: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2019EDUC0019-000324