WHEREAS the Government of British Columbia recognizes that rural and small communities have unique needs, and that a stable and effective public education system is instrumental in creating and supporting both a sustainable community and province, and that many school districts have announced significant financial challenges for 2013 and beyond; AND WHEREAS the closure of schools can have significant, and often permanent long term results such as preventing economic resurgence and inhibiting population growth in a community, and can be detrimental to the development of students, resulting in significant social and economic loss in our province: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM strongly request the Government of British Columbia to continue its commitment to build strong communities throughout the province by adequately funding education and schools to promote the stability and sustainability of communities through the province; and where additional funding is unavailable, that the Ministry of Education be encouraged to assist local interest groups to develop creative solutions to keep schools open and to provide top quality education to students, where they live, throughout British Columbia.
Ministry of Education Despite pressures and challenges, the provincial government has kept its commitment to protect K-12 education funding, which remains at a record 4.725 billion in operating grants to public school districts for 201314. The Ministry supports boards of education to provide creative and flexible learning environments for students to achieve their best. BCs Education Plan is designed to support and enable more flexibility for personalized learning. The Ministry encourages boards to work with communities to develop programs at the local level to best support students and to maximize the use of their school facilities. It should be noted that BCs boards of education are separate legal entities under the School Act. Each board makes its own budgetary decisions and has the authority to close schools. However, prior to a board making the decision to close a school facility, it must first engage in a process of public consultation.