NORTH VANCOUVER – Students in North Vancouver will benefit from safer, more efficient and comfortable schools thanks to over $5 million in provincial funding for school upgrade projects in the North Vancouver School District, announced North Vancouver-Lonsdale MLA Bowinn Ma.

“Making these investments in our schools means that young people in our community will get to learn in the best possible environments,” Ma said. “Helping our schools become safer and more sustainable is a positive step forward in delivering the education services families count on and ensuring the continued excellence of North Vancouver’s schools.”

North Vancouver School District (SD #44) is receiving $5,268,543 in total funding, including:

• $1,746,456 from the School Enhancement Program for window upgrades at Eastview Elementary and Capilano Elementary.
• $443,560 from the Carbon Neutral Capital Program to replace boilers at Braemar Elementary and Ross Road Elementary.
• $3,078,527 in Annual Facilities Grant (AFG) funding, which flows to the North Vancouver School District annually for routine school maintenance costs.

These funding programs are part of a $198-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.

The provincial government has boosted school maintenance funding by more than $20 million over last year, and has increased the AFG for the first time since 2004/05. The increase in funding will help ensure that students, teachers and school district staff can focus their energy where it matters most – in the classroom.

Link to Provincial release: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018EDUC0015-000500