Join the Call for Education Funding
February 2010
The BC public school system is facing an unprecedented funding crisis. Much of this funding crisis is caused by costs that have been mandated, but not paid for, by the provincial government.
These cost include
- increases for teacher salaries and benefits under contracts that the province negotiated;
- new provincial carbon tax and carbon offset charges;
- increases to provincial MSP and WCB premiums;
- implementation costs of new provincial requirements like Bill 33 and all-day kindergarten; and
- general inflation, which the provincial funding formula also does not cover.
The BC school district secretary-treasurers anticipate a $300 million funding shortfall for BC school districts this year to maintain status quo. In Vancouver, this year’s budget shortfall is estimated to be between 19 and 33 million dollars.
BC Budget Day is March 2, so it’s urgent that BC MLAs hear from as many people as possible before that date if we want to avert unprecedented cuts to our public schools! The BC Society for Public Education is urging citizens to take action and write to your MLA about cuts to public education.
Visit www.stopeducationcuts.org to find a sample letter and more information about how funding cuts will effect schools throughout BC.