The province is investing an additional $740 million into public education over the next three years, B.C. Finance Minister Mike de Jong announced in his pre-election budget Tuesday.
It91裸聊视频檚 not enough, according to B.C. Teachers91裸聊视频� Federation president Glen Hansman.
91裸聊视频淪ome of it is long overdue,91裸聊视频� said Hansman. Much of it, he added is just making up for years of past cuts.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e concerned that some of it is court-ordered and some of it is simply because there are new students coming into the province and you would expect that the government would fund new students.91裸聊视频�
He91裸聊视频檚 more optimistic about the $320 million for the interim agreement between the B.C. Teachers91裸聊视频� Federation and the province and $50 million to hire 1,100 teachers announced in January.
91裸聊视频淲e of course would have preferred to see a number but to have strong references to the necessary monies being there in the contingency fund91裸聊视频� that should get us there,91裸聊视频� said Hansman.
91裸聊视频淭his all may be moot in the next couple of weeks if we resolve this and then we will be able to talk more concrete numbers and hopefully they will be able to nail down an exact amount.91裸聊视频�
There will be $120 million for 2017-18 and $100 million per year for the two following years.
91裸聊视频淭here is money within the budget to address the ongoing negotiations that are taking place,91裸聊视频� said De Jong. The total cost will be determined by the negotiations.
According to the education ministry, the province has spent $2.6 million in legal fees on their 15-year battle with the BCTF. The final agreement has yet to be ratified.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 told that the discussions are productive at the moment and the parties are hopeful about reaching a settlement,91裸聊视频� de Jong said. 91裸聊视频淭here are monies in the fiscal plan to ensure that the final settlement can be financed.91裸聊视频�
Over the next three years, a total of $9 million will go towards keeping rural schools open and $45 million will go towards cutting school bus fees for the majority of students within school catchment areas.
Education Minister Mike Bernier announced Sunday that school districts will receive $27.4 million this year in one-time funding out of the current year91裸聊视频檚 budget. Districts must apply and prioritize purchasing supplies and resources that reduce costs for parents and helping teachers deliver B.C.91裸聊视频檚 new curriculum.
There will be $228 million over the three-year plan for projected enrolment growth and $94 million in flexible funding to help with school district operational costs.
Out of the $13.7 billion in total provincial capital spending over the next three years, $2 billion will go towards K-12 education.
That includes the $217 million for 5,200 new student seats in Surrey announced earlier this year, a new Grandview Heights secondary School that will add 1,500 new seats, Smiling Creek Elementary in Coquitlam which will provide 430 new seats, a seismic update to Alpha Secondary and $52.7 million to address the capital needs for french immersion schools.
