Whereas the provincial government was involved in an initiative to seek input on rural education in fallwinter 2016-2017; And whereas school district funding is inadequate for some districts to provide busing to all rural and remote students: Therefore be it resolved that the Ministry of Education consult with affected stakeholders to make clear definitions of rural and remote, identifying the significant difference between lower mainland rural and remoteness with northern rural and remoteness; And be it further resolved that UBCM call on the Ministry of Education to provide all required funding to bus eligible students to and from school, because all rural and remote students must have equal access to public education.
Ministry of Education The Ministry provides over 5 billion in funds through the Funding Allocation System, which includes weighted factors to distribute additional funds to school districts with rural areas, small communities, or where students are widely dispersed, thereby ensuring that operational funds incorporate the unique characteristics of each school district. In general, the Government supports Boards of Education having the flexibility and autonomy to allocate their operational funding in accordance with local priorities. We also appreciate the tough operational decisions that local Boards of Education sometimes have to make. Although home-to-school transportation is a discretionary service that Boards of Education are not obligated to provide, they do have the flexibility and autonomy to make decisions relating to transportation and how they provide educational services in communities. Government appreciates the transportation challenges, which is why the Student Transportation Fund STF provides an additional on-going 14.7 million to improve the affordability of transportation services, as well as ensure more equitable and affordable access for students. Another 1 million supports shared service projects in collaboration with the sector to support bus optimization, shared planning tools, and software products that will improve transportation service and efficiency. The Government is aware that there are 140 communities with only one school and the Rural Education Enhancement Fund REEF recognizes the importance of preserving schools in small rural communities. School districts may apply for REEF funding if their schools are at risk of closure and meet the eligibility criteria. Currently for the 201718 school year, there are 11 schools in 8 school districts approved for 3.4 million in funding through REEF which allows those schools to remain open, thereby keeping students in their home communities and reducing transportation. During the 201617 school year, Government conducted a rural education review with open houses held across the province, including several meetings within the North Central Local Government Association. The government learned a great deal about the challenges facing rural schools and school districts, together with the differing perspectives on rurality and remoteness in different parts of the province. Through the review, and the feedback of many school districts across the province, Government recognizes the necessity of developing stable educational funding capable of meeting rural and remote challenges as well as the needs of fast growing regions. Consequently, the feedback from the rural education review will inform the upcoming K-12 funding review so we can allocate funding to meet the challenges facing public education across the province.