VICTORIA - As the new school year begins, six new schools costing approximately $183 million will open their doors for the very first time today.
The five new replacement schools in established neighbourhoods - and the one new school in a rapidly growing area of Langley - can accommodate up to 4,515 K-12 students.
New school:
* Lynn Fripps Elementary - 510 students - $13M (Langley)
New replacement schools:
* Begbie View Elementary - 330 students - $15M (Revelstoke)
* Abbotsford Senior Secondary - 1,100 students - $44M (Abbotsford)
* Carson Graham Secondary - 1,100 students - $38M (North Vancouver)
* Alberni District Secondary - 1,000 students - $58M (Port Alberni)
* Yarrow Community school - 475 students - $15M (Chilliwack)
Over the past year, the B.C. government has committed $353 million in funding for new-school and school expansion projects as announced by Premier Christy Clark in October 2011. As well, since May 2012, more than $122 million has also been committed as part of government's seismic mitigation program to provide structural upgrades at 14 high-priority schools.
Quick Facts:
* The September estimated full-time public school enrolment for the 2012-13 school year is 534,691, compared to 540,696 for the September 2011 estimate (6,005 fewer students).
* Estimated operating funding to school districts is a record $4.725 billion this
year. The average per-pupil funding for 2012-13 is now an estimated $8,493, up 36
per cent since 2000-01.
* Since 2001, the B.C. government has spent more than $2.1 billion to complete 93
new and replacement schools, 150 additions, 27 renovations and 22 site
acquisitions, and has committed more than $4 billion on school capital and
maintenance projects throughout British Columbia.