MLAs Beare and D’Eith welcome school upgrades for students in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows

MAPLE RIDGE – Local MLAs Minister Lisa Beare and Bob D’Eith say students in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows will benefit from safer, more efficient and more comfortable schools thanks to over $4 million in provincial funding for school upgrade projects in the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows School District.

“Back in October, we announced that we are fast-tracking seismic upgrades at Westview Secondary and Fairview Elementary. Today’s announcement is even more great news for students and staff in our schools,” said MLA Beare. “These additional upgrades will really improve learning conditions, and give parents peace of mind that their kids are learning in schools that are safe and comfortable.”

“For too long, education in B.C. was headed in the wrong direction. Our new government is taking a new approach – supporting our teachers and investing in our kids to give them the best possible start,” said MLA D’Eith. “From school infrastructure and seismic upgrades, to hiring over 3,700 new teachers in B.C., our new government is taking action to ensure that this generation of students benefits from quality education in well-maintained schools.”

Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows School District is receiving $4,156,836 in total funding, including:

  • $1,125,000 in School Enhancement Program funding to upgrade and extend the life of the boiler and hot water system at Pitt Meadows Secondary and the dust collection system at Maple Ridge Secondary.
  • $488,000 in provincial Carbon Neutral Capital Program funding for energy efficient upgrades at Westview Secondary to replace HVAC system rooftop units.
  • $2,543,836 in Annual Facilities Grant (AFG) funding, which flows to the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows School District annually for routine school maintenance costs.

These funding programs are part of a $198-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.

The provincial government has boosted school maintenance funding by more than $20 million over last year, and has increased the AFG for the first time since 2004/05. The increase in funding will help ensure that students, teachers and school district staff can focus their energy where it matters most – in the classroom.

Provincial news release and backgrounder: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018EDUC0015-000500