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Ministry Of Education, Skills and Training
Restructuring School Districts Protects Services To Students

NR13-96
April 9, 1996

VANCOUVER -- The province will reduce the number of school districts in British Columbia from 75 to 57, and will save up to $120 million through restructuring over the next four years, Education, Skills and Training Minister Paul Ramsey announced today.

The money saved through restructuring will go to protect services in the classroom, the minister said.

"There's a pressing need to more efficiently manage the public education system, especially in light of federal offloading in education and health care," said Ramsey. "By cutting the cost of government and finding savings through school district restructuring, we can make sure money goes where it's most needed -- to funding for students."

Ramsey was joined today by BC School Trustees Association President Carole James and Oscar Bedard, co-chairs of the Public Education Restructuring Committee. The committee had been consulting with British Columbians on the restructuring and amalgamation of B.C. school districts at the request of former Education Minister Art Charbonneau, and delivered their final report to Ramsey on April 4.

Ramsey stated that government acted quickly in response to the committee's recommendations on amalgamation in order to bring stability and certainty to the education system.

"This new structure, based largely on the recommendations of the Public Education Restructuring Committee, is evidence of government's commitment to consult with and respond quickly to the concerns of educators, parents, districts and communities," he said. "While government's decision does not precisely parallel the recommendations contained in the restructuring committee's report, we are in agreement in many critical areas."

The new structure will not change the boundaries of 41 school districts. The remaining 34 will be amalgamated into 16 new districts, which are to be in place by December 1, 1996, in time for the next municipal elections. Government's initial target was to reduce the number of school districts to 37.

To support districts as they make the transition to the new structure, Ramsey said he will establish a committee comprised of ministry officials and system co-governors, school trustees. The committee will also review the long-term recommendations contained in the PERC report. Ramsey said one issue of particular importance for the committee will be to ensure the interests of all communities are adequately represented under the new structure.

Ramsey said that rather than derive savings only through amalgamation, the committee recommended that all districts should be required to realize savings through system-wide efficiencies. Savings from the school system will increase gradually, to total $120 million over the next four years.

"I am also in agreement with the committee on the need to protect funding for programs for aboriginal students and those with special needs," said Ramsey. "Restructuring will not affect these critical programs."

Ramsey acknowledged the enormous amount of time and energy that has been contributed by the committee, and all education partners in examining and providing input on the issue of restructuring.

"I recognize that this has been a challenging process for many communities. These decisions are the result of broad consultation and our response demonstrates that we have listened to educators, staff, trustees, parents and communities," said Ramsey. "It is now time for us to focus on making the new structure work for the benefit of all students in the province."

The new B.C. School District Structure:

Abbotsford
Alberni
Armstrong-Spallumcheen-Shuswap*
Arrow Lakes
Bulkley Valley
Burnaby
Burns Lake - Nechako*
Campbell River-Vancouver Island West*
Cariboo-Chilcotin
Castlegar-Trail*
Central Coast
Central Okanagan
Coquitlam
Cowichan - Lake Cowichan*
Courtenay
Delta
Fernie - Cranbrook*
Fort Nelson
Grand Forks-Kettle Valley*
Gulf Islands
Hope - Chilliwack - Agassiz-Harrison*
Howe Sound
Kamloops-North Thompson*
Kimberley - Windermere - Golden*
Kitimat-Terrace*
Langley
Lillooet - South Cariboo*
Maple Ridge - Pitt Meadows
Mission
Nanaimo
Nelson/ Creston - Kaslo*
New Westminster
Nisga'a
North Peace
North Vancouver
Penticton - Summerland*
Powell River
Prince George
Prince Rupert
Princeton - Merritt*
Qualicum
Queen Charlottes
Quesnel
Revelstoke
Richmond
Saanich
Sooke
South Peace
Southern Okanagan - Keremeos*
Sunshine Coast
Stikine
Surrey
Vancouver
Vancouver Island North
Vernon
Victoria
West Vancouver

*denotes districts being amalgamated

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