COMOX VALLEY – New Democrat MLAs Ronna-Rae Leonard and Scott Fraser say students in the Comox Valley will benefit from safer, more efficient schools thanks to over $1.8 million in provincial funding for school upgrade projects in the Comox Valley School District.

“Students are far more successful when they have safe and comfortable learning environments,” said Ronna-Rae Leonard, MLA for Courtenay-Comox. “After years of BC Liberal neglect, our government is providing increased funding to school districts to ensure that our children have well-maintained schools to learn in.”

“Under the BC Liberals, the needs of our students and teachers were ignored,” said Scott Fraser, MLA for Mid Island-Pacific Rim. “Our government is choosing to invest in children, teachers and school districts across the province, because when students succeed, everyone benefits.”

Comox Valley School District (SD 71) is receiving $1,848,500 in funding for school maintenance projects, including:

• School Enhancement Program
  • Mark R. Isfeld Secondary
    • Boiler & Floor Upgrades (Phase 1)
  • Cumberland Community School
    • HVAC & Fire Sprinkler System Upgrades (Phase 1)
  • Royston Elementary
    • HVAC & Fire Sprinkler System Upgrades (Phase 1)
  • Carbon Neutral Capital Program
    • Highland Secondary
      • Replace Boilers with High Efficiency Boiler

These funding programs are part of a $206 million provincial investment under the Annual Facilities Grant (AFG), 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 overall 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.

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