NDP Tri-Cities MLAs welcome school upgrades

PORT MOODY/COQUITLAM – Students in the tri-cities will benefit from safer, more efficient and comfortable schools thanks to $7.4 million in provincial funding for school upgrade projects in the Coquitlam School District.

“We’re making education a top priority again after the BC Liberals’ 16 year war on education,” said Mike Farnworth, MLA for Port Coquitlam. “That’s why this year’s funding represents the first increase to the Annual Facilities Grant in 14 years.”

“Schools can start doing some overdue maintenance,” said Selina Robinson, MLA for Coquitlam-Maillardville. “Proper maintenance and upgrades will save schools money in the long run that can be put back into classrooms.”

“Students in the tri-cities deserve the best education possible,” said Rick Glumac, MLA for Port Moody. “On top of more for maintenance and upgrades, we’re rebuilding old schools and hiring thousands of new teachers to get back to smaller class sizes.”

Coquitlam School District (SD 43) is receiving $7.4 million in total funding, including:

  • $1,214,062 from the School Enhancement Program for mechanical upgrades at Summit Middle and Dr. Charles Best Secondary.
  • $600,000 from the Carbon Neutral Capital Program for heating and hot water upgrades at Hazel Trembath Elementary and Coquitlam River Elementary.
  • $5,601,964 in Annual Facilities Grant (AFG) funding, which flows to the Coquitlam 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.

Link to Provincial release: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018EDUC0015-000500