The School District 67 board has announced that both West Bench and Trout Creek Elementary Schools meet the Rural Education Enhancement Funds program eligibility criteria and have been approved.

The information came from a letter received late Wednesday from the minister of education Mike Bernier.

The schools have been approved for the 2016/17 school year and will not have to reapply for the 2017/18 school year; costs will be adjusted at that time for any increases or decreases.

The district has been funded in full and will be receiving $739,219 as a special purpose grant.

“We are so very pleased and excited that both of our applications were approved,” said board chair Linda Van Alphen.

The board must still finalize their decisions with regard to school closures and acceptance of this funding which will occur at a special public meeting taking place at 3 p.m. at the school board office today, Thursday.

The board would like to thank staff and the PAC’s from both schools for their hard work on the applications.

The School District 53 board is meeting this afternoon.