School districts will be keeping the money saved from the three-day teachers’ strike and doubling the Learning Improvement Fund (LIF) as a result.
Education Minister George Abbott made the announcement at a meeting in Vancouver last week. There were savings of $30 million provincially, doubling the already $30 million LIF. In a press release, he stated the money will go right back to school districts.
“Investing $30 million in savings from the strike into the Learning Improvement Fund will provide school districts with additional resources to support students and to help teachers address the needs of their students.”
Steve Hopkins, secretary treasurer with School District 47, returned from the Vancouver meeting and confirmed, “One hundred per cent of the strike savings stay within the district.” He added it “doubles what we would have been getting next year.”
Class sizes and composition will also be addressed. “That would be done with a consultation with the principals and teachers at the various schools where it seems they need extra resources,” he said. “A per cent of that will be used for additional CUPE [Canadian Union of Public Employees] support staff as well which was part of the CUPE collective agreement that they negotiated.”
Hopkins explained the funds will go back to the province, into the LIF and will return to the district in the coming school year.
“Then we’ll get the same amount the following year and then the provincial fund goes up to about $75 [million] the following year and so we’ll get another 50 per cent, another $70,000 or so in that year.”
The entire LIF will be increased from $165 million to $195 million provincially. School districts will be able to put the funds toward hiring additional teachers and special education assistants, provide additional teaching time and helping teachers meet complex classroom needs.
Hopkins said the district budget for next year is still being planned, so it is not certain exactly where the money will be going yet.
“We won’t know until next fall. Right now we’re just ramping up to our budget cycle planning for next year and that’s all in draft. Next September when principals start to finalize what classes actually look like then more needy classes will emerge and that’s where those resources will go.”
Abbott also announced BC school districts will be receiving $10.7 million as a one-time funding as part of BC’s Education Plan. It is meant to support struggling readers in the K-12 grades.
