Hi All,
Our local schools are facing significant issues around funding cuts, downloaded costs, and school closures.
All of this has not gone without notice and recently, during Education Estimates, Michael brought them to the attention of the government.
Attached and below you will find a transcript of Michael discussing the proposed school closures in SD 42.
For those keen political observers, Advanced Ed Minister Moira Stillwell was standing in for Education Minister Mary MacDiarmid who has been off for some time due to a serious illness.
Enjoy,
2009 Legislative Session: First Session, 39th Parliament
COMMITTEE A BLUES
This is a DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY of debate in one sitting of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. This transcript is subject to corrections, and will be replaced by the final, official Hansard report. Use of this transcript, other than in the legislative precinct, is not protected by parliamentary privilege, and public attribution of any of the debate as transcribed here could entail legal liability.
DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
(HANSARD)
COMMITTEE A BLUES
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
Afternoon Sitting
M. Sather: I wanted to ask the minister a couple of questions about school district 42 in Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows. We have two elementary schools — Riverside and Mount Crescent — that are on the verge, apparently, of closing. We have this ongoing issue. I don’t actually hear about it so much in other districts, or at least from our side of the House, so I’m not how sure how prevalent it is. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
[1605]
In Maple Ridge we’ve got a real issue with growth all happening on one end of the municipality, the East end. On that end the schools are overcrowded, and we need more. But on the other end we’ve got schools that are [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
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overcrowded. We need more. But on the other end we’ve got schools that have lots of capacity yet. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
So the allocation formula makes it impossible for my district to build schools where we need them, in that we have to have 95 percent occupancy in order to qualify. We can never reach that because of the problem we have with the anomaly of density and growth on one end and declining enrolment on the other end. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
I want to ask the minister — it’s again not to this minister but to ministers generally: is the government considering the allocation formula? Is there any chance that it will be changed to help our district cope with that problem? [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Hon. M. Stilwell: Your question emphasizes one of the things that we have been talking about this afternoon, and that is the trend towards decline in enrolment at fully 6 percent in your district. Certainly, we ask each district to utilize their capital assets to the full extent so that we can avoid, in these times, taking on more taxpayer debt to build schools in the areas that have schools that can be used. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
M. Sather: I’m particularly concerned about the closure of Mount Crescent Elementary. It’s on the edge of our central core in Maple Ridge. In the Metro Vancouver region we’re trying to cope with a new regional growth strategy, which is going to require us to densify in order to get transit and control urban sprawl and fight climate change. Schools are a big part of this, because if we lose our schools in that area, it’s going to be difficult to attract those young families to settle in that area. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
So I’m just wondering: does the minister have any discussions with districts about that part, that role that schools play in terms of fighting climate change and dealing with growth strategies that we face in our district? [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
[1610]
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Hon. M. Stilwell: Well, certainly, as you pointed out yourself, we build schools where there is a need and don’t want to encourage boards, nor influence boards, in terms of what they choose in terms of which schools operate where. Certainly, again, I would say that we recognize that it’s a board decision, and we recognize that they have unique knowledge of the area they’re in. I trust that the school districts are aware of the regional plans and other plans in their area that may impact on those decisions. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
M. Sather: So are there any discussions happening, then, between the ministry and the Minister of Environment and the Minister of State for Climate Action on the role that schools can play in the siting of schools in terms of fighting climate change? [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Hon. M. Stilwell: The province, I think, has played not just a leading role globally in terms of climate action policy, but in terms of school districts and education. As you know the province has adopted the LEED gold standard for all new schools. As well, as you probably know, all new schools will be built of wood. We have dollars available for energy efficiency upgrades, which was a part of the accelerated capital program as part of our economic stimulus plan. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
[1615]
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M. Sather: Our school board chair wrote to the minister in September expressing concern about the cancellation of the 2009-2010 annual facility grant. She said it’s imperative that the local autonomy of school districts continue as well as sustain the required level of maintenance of our facilities. I’m wondering: has the minister responded to that concern with our district, and when can the district expect to find out whether or not they will get their facility grant for next year? [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Hon. M. Stilwell: Certainly with respect to this year I think it’s important to recognize it was an unusual year in terms of having a budget in September versus March. As we go forward and plan the budget for March 15, we first of all recognize the importance of early information so that boards and districts can plan. Certainly we intend to and commit to giving the information to the districts March 15, and we will try to restore the annual facilities grant to the extent we can as we see the revenue forecasts and how the budget comes together. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
