BURNABY– Local MLA’s Anne Kang, Janet Routledge, Katrina Chen and Raj Chouhan say students will benefit from safer, more efficient schools thanks to over $900,000 in provincial funding for school upgrade projects in the Burnaby School District.

Burnaby School District (SD41) is receiving $910,875 in funding for school maintenance projects, including boiler, hot water, and safety enclosure upgrades, at Brentwood Park Elementary and Lyndhurst Elementary.

This funding is a 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 provincial funding is a $500,000 increase from the previous year, and a $20.6 million increase from 2016/17.

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.

Quotes

Anne Kang, MLA for Burnaby Deer-Lake

“If schools aren’t properly funded or maintained, teachers can’t do their jobs and students can’t learn. After years of neglect from the former BC Liberal government, I’m so glad to see our schools receive the support they deserve.”

Janet Routledge, MLA for Burnaby North

“Without upgraded, well-maintained schools, students can’t focus on what matters the most — their education. These investments will ensure Burnaby schools continue to offer great learning environments.”

Katrina Chen, MLA for Burnaby-Lougheed

“Schools are the lifeblood of a community. I’m proud to be a part of a government that’s investing in high-quality learning environments right around the province.”

Raj Chouhan, MLA for Burnaby-Edmonds

“Schools have been putting off renovations because of years of indifference and lack of adequate funding. The previous BC Liberal government let down a generation of students. We are addressing maintenance concerns so that students have a school that can support them.”

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