Administrative savings from school districts being directed back to students
By Contributor
Kootenay Lake School District is to receive $252,383.
Kootenay-Columbia gets $178,204.
Arrow Lakes, $36,091. SD 51 Boundary, $77,888.
The Government of British Columbia is redirecting $25 million in administrative savings from school districts back into frontline services for students.
Education Minister Mike Bernier, who made the announcement Tuesday, said districts can use the funding any way they see fit – for hiring new teachers, for programs, or for maintaining schools despite falling enrolment in certain regions.
“Our government is committed to ensuring that maximum education dollars go into services for students,” Bernier said.
“Districts worked hard to reduce their administrative costs and we are pleased to be able to direct that $25 million back to programs and initiatives that will directly benefit the kids of B.C.”
Districts made real efforts to reduce spending on their administration costs – and those efforts have made it possible to help flow those resources into classrooms and services for students. The amount of money being left with districts is equal to the Year 2 of Administrative savings districts were asked to find.
“The BC School Trustees Association is pleased that the Ministry of Education and government have been responsive to our ongoing advocacy,” said BC School Trustees Association president Teresa Rezansoff.
“We thank them for engaging in open dialogue with us regarding the funding concerns of school districts. Local autonomy to allocate the money based on local priorities is important.”
School districts have been informed that they will not have to pay their share of $25 million worth of provincial charges this year, and instead can redirect that money into frontline services for students.
“We are giving districts the ability to invest in their individual priorities,” Bernier added.
“This provides a great opportunity for each district to spend the money in a way that will best meet the needs of the students of that district.”
Comments