Government announcement on schools

The amount of funding districts will be eligible for is to be equal to their expected savings from closing the school. Districts would be able to apply annually for Rural Education Enhancement Funding if they meet the following criteria:

• In a rural community or sub-community outside Greater Victoria, the Lower Mainland, and Kelowna areas with a population less than 15,000;
• Closure would eliminate specific grades within the community;
• Funding is used to keep the school open; and
• Closures due to facility condition or extreme enrolment decline are not included.

While the ongoing Rural Education Enhancement Fund will help keep schools open starting this coming school year, Premier Clark also tasked newly appointed parliamentary secretary for rural education Linda Larson and parliamentary secretary for rural development Donna Barnett to conduct a full study of rural education funding in the province to seek a long-term solution.

The Rural Education Strategy will look at rural school district budgets and the role education and schools play in communities outside the Lower Mainland, Greater Victoria, and Kelowna. The strategy will aim to find solutions for the unique challenges facing rural school districts while recognizing the economic impact of single schools in small communities.

 

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Last story quoting SD 53 Chair Marieze Tarr

“In an earlier interview Thursday, Tarr acknowledged that a budget shortfall was a main reason for the decision this spring to shutter OSS. She said she is grateful for the funding announcement and the fact that it will be available on a yearly basis.

She cautioned, however, that another reason for the closure is the deteriorating condition of the OSS building and the need for about $4 million in mechanical, electrical and other upgrades over the next few years.

A problem for rural districts like Osoyoos is that the ministry won’t fund capital upgrades to building that are less that 95 per cent occupied. OSS is not close to that.”