WHEREAS a stable, effective public education system is instrumental in creating and supporting a successful and sustainable community, and many school districts have announced significant financial challenges for 2010 and beyond; AND WHEREAS the closure of schools is detrimental to the development of students and effectively removes the heart of the community with significant social and economic loss, and minimizes the opportunity for any growth in the community: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the UBCM strongly request the government of BC to continue its commitment to build strong communities throughout the province by adequately funding education and schools to achieve integrated sustainability of communities throughout the province.
Ministry of Education In 201011, BC school districts will share 4.663 billion in operating grantsthe highest everan increase of 112 million over 200910. This increase to operating funding includes 54 million to fund the teachers wage increase for 201011, and 58 million for the implementation of full day kindergarten this year. Budget 2011 has committed a further 58 million in funding next year to fully fund full day kindergarten for all five year old students. Average per-pupil funding is estimated to increase by 105 from 8,196 in 200910 to 8,341 in 201011 and to 8,357 in 200112. The-per pupil funding amount has increased by an estimated 2,095 since 200001. The operating grants include a component called the Small Community Supplement, which provides additional funds to districts that operate small schools in rural and remote locations. This supplement will allocate nearly 65 million province-wide in 201011 and has expanded from a 50 million supplement when it was first introduced in 200203. The Small Community Supplement is a component of the Supplement for Unique Geographic Factors, which assists small, rural and remote districts with additional costs that operate in those areas. The Supplement for Unique Geographic Factors will total more than 160 million province-wide for 201011, an increase from 132 million from when the Supplement was introduced in 200203.