PRINCE RUPERT – North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice says students in Prince Rupert will benefit from safer, more efficient schools thanks to $1.5 million in provincial funding for school upgrade projects in the Prince Rupert School District.

“Providing a safe and comfortable learning environment is critical to the success of students in our community” said Rice. “After years of neglect, investing in schools is finally part of a new chapter in B.C.—one where the education and safety of our kids is top priority.”

Prince Rupert School District (SD 52) is receiving $1,500,000 in funding for school maintenance projects which include a boiler replacement at Lax Kxeen Elementary, electrical and mechanical upgrades at Charles Hays Secondary, and a replacement of pneumatic controls at Pineridge Elementary.

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

Since September 2017, the New Democrat government has approved over $3.5 million for school upgrades in the district, including over $1.1 million to replace Prince Rupert Middle School.

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