COWICHAN – Local MLA Doug Routley says students in the Cowichan Valley will benefit from safer, more efficient schools thanks to over $1.6 million in provincial funding for school upgrade projects in the Cowichan Valley School District.

“The BC Liberals’ 16 year war on education resulted in many essential school maintenance projects being put on hold,” said Doug Routley, MLA for Nanaimo-North Cowichan. “That’s why our government has wasted no time in funding important upgrades to provide safe and comfortable schools for students.”

The Cowichan Valley School District (SD 79) is receiving $1,665,000 in funding for school maintenance projects, including:

• School Enhancement Program
  • Ecole Mt. Prevost Elementary
    • Boiler upgrades
  • Khowhemun Elementary
    • Heat pumps
  • Lake Cowichan Secondary and Drinkwater Elementary
    • Roof upgrades/replacement (phase 3)
  • Roof upgrades/replacement (phase 2) at various schools

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.

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