Increased enrolment brings in $3.7 million in new funds

The Okanagan Saturday

Enrolment in the Central Okanagan School District increased by more than 400 students this September.

The provincial government announced it will pay $8,969 per pupil, which translates to an additional $3.7 million for the Central Okanagan.

Enrolment increased by 421 students from 21,643 in September 2015 to 22,064 in September 2016.

“It’s not really extra money going in for programs, it’s just that any school districts who have extra students are guaranteed to get money to cover those students,” said Moyra Baxter, school board chairwoman. “It’s just to cover the cost of students in the system.”

The Okanagan Skaha district had an enrolment increase of 19 students, and the Vernon school district had an increase of 88 students from September 2015 to September 2016.

Across the province, 42 school districts had increased enrolment this year, while 18 districts had less students than the year before.

The biggest increase was in the Surrey school district, which had an added 993 students this September, followed by Langley with an added 697 students.

In total, the government is providing $46.7 million to cover the costs of the enrolment increases.

“The B.C. School Trustees Association is pleased with Minister (Mike) Bernier’s confirmation that the ministry of education will be fully funding this year’s additional students, as previously indicated,” said Teresa Rezansoff, president of the B.C. School Trustees Association, in a press release.

“Likewise, the recognition of the need for predictable funding going forward will greatly assist boards with their upcoming 2017-2018 budget process.”