Money changes could aid schools; Ministry may take daycare and special needs into account
The Daily News (Nanaimo)
May 1, 2008
By: Derek Spalding

B.C. Education Minister Shirley Bond may make changes to the capital funding formula for school districts around the province that could result in the ministry recognizing daycare and special needs spaces that currently do not count toward a school's capacity utilization.

School districts have been lobbying the government to make such changes because declining enrolment continues to leave districts scrambling to come up with money. The current formula mandates that a school district's elementary schools must fill 95% of available seats in order to qualify for capital funding to build a new school.

The Nanaimo-Ladysmith school district houses daycare and special skills programs that occupy approximately 500 seats, none of which are recognized by ministry guidelines. Districts and parents around the province have argued that such spaces should count toward enrolment levels because the spaces are occupied.

Board of education chairman Jamie Brennan said the changes are a long time coming and he will be more excited when the new formula is announced.

"It will help us because we can encourage alternate use and get some modest revenue without being penalized," he explained. "It's been difficult so far because we would have a Strong Start program move in and that space wouldn't get recognized."…

Bond also asked her staff to consider how empty spaces could be used if the ministry moves toward an all-day kindergarten model….