HAZELTON – Stikine MLA Doug Donaldson says students in Telegraph Creek, Atlin, Dease Lake, and Lower Post will benefit from safer, more efficient schools thanks to $870,000 in provincial funding for school upgrade projects in the Stikine School District.

“Students in these remote, northern communities deserve learning environments that are accessible, safe and comfortable,” said MLA Donaldson. “For too long, our kids have suffered from a lack of action on education in this province. This funding boost is part of a new chapter in BC – one that prioritizes the growth and safety of students in our community.”

Stikine Schools District (SD 87) is receiving $870,000 in funding for school maintenance projects, including LED lighting upgrades at Tahltan, Atlin and Dease Lake elementary schools. In addition, the funding covers building enclosure upgrades at Dease Lake Elementary.

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 $1.9 million for school upgrades in the district, including $360,000 in HVAC upgrades at Denetia and Tahltan elementary schools.

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