The Vernon and North Okanagan-Shuswap school districts will receive a fair chunk of change from the provincial Ministry of Education for equipment upgrades and new school buses.
Each year the ministry receives an annual five-year capital plan submission from public school districts requesting approval and funding for a variety of minor capital projects.
The ministry goes over the requests, comparing them to the eligibility criteria of the capital programs offered and the available program budgets, and provides approvals accordingly.
The Vernon School District will receive nearly $2.9 million from the School Enhancement Program (SEP) for heating, venting and air conditioning (HVAC) upgrades at Lumby’s Charles Bloom Secondary School; HVAC upgrades at Alexis Park Elementary will come from Carbon Neutral Capital Program (CNCP); and four new buses will be purchased through funding from the Bus Acquisition Program (BUS).
The North Okanagan-Shuswap School District is getting slightly more than $1.9 million from the SEP for HVAC upgrades at Parkview Elementary School in Sicamous, and from BUS for one new school bus.
SEP funding supports repair and maintenance projects that contribute to the function of the school and extend the life of the existing asset.
CNCP funding supports carbon-neutral projects that have the greatest impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and providing energy efficiency and operational cost savings.
BUS funding supports the acquisition of new buses for those that have surpassed established thresholds for school bus age and/or mileage, demonstrate significant safety and/or mechanical issues, that are required to support new routes in a school district without current student transportation service, or where the school district intends to create their own busing services versus using third-party contracted services.
READ MORE: Compost bin extension detailed ahead of Vernon household pickup
READ MORE: Canada-Ukraine exchange students return to B.C. town to help and to remember
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
Want to support local journalism? Make a donation here.