COLWOOD – Esquimalt-Metchosin MLA Mitzi Dean says students in the West Shore will benefit from safer, more efficient schools thanks to over $1 million in provincial funding for school upgrade projects in the Sooke School District.

“The BC Liberals neglected our public education system for years, leaving behind billions in deferred maintenance costs,” said MLA Mitzi Dean. “Our government is choosing to invest in schools to ensure that children in the West Shore have the safe and comfortable learning environments they need to succeed.”

Sooke School District (SD 62) is receiving $1,150,623 in funding for school maintenance projects, including:

• School Enhancement Program
  • Dunsmuir Middle School
    • Replace Unit Ventilators & Windows (Phase 1)
  • Bus Acquisition Program
    • Two New Buses

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

Last year, the New Democrat government provided over $3 million for school upgrades in SD 62. In addition, the Province announced $23.2 million for a 600-seat Royal Bay Secondary expansion, and $23.3 million to buy land for a new elementary and middle school in Westhills.

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