Parent advisory councils in B.C. learned Tuesday that their funding has been cut by half.

Janet Steffenhagen 09-08-2009 Vancouver Sun:

The Social Development Ministry has just now confirmed that gaming grants for parent advisory councils (PACs) have been reduced for the new school year.

Here's a part of the release:

Community gaming grants to Parent Advisory Councils (PACs) will be based on $10 per student this year. District PACs will be funded at $1,250 to support parental involvement in schools.

This funding is part of the $56.2 million from community gaming grants being directed to children in schools. It includes $48.6 million for meal programs, child and youth workers, and other initiatives under the CommunityLINK program, which benefits vulnerable students in the public school system. $7.6 million will go to approximately 1,700 PACs and DPACs to support extra-curricular activities for students.

PAC organizations that received bingo affiliation grants at $20 per student earlier this year will not be eligible for a $10 per student gaming grant in 2009/10.

ctvbc.ca

B.C.'s education minister said Tuesday that parent-advisory councils this year will only get 50 percent of the funding they got last year. "The ministry will continue to work with school districts as best as we can, and help them as best as we can," said Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid. "I think everybody though really understands these are challenging times." Everyone has a part to play to get the province's huge deficit under control, she said. Parents will be expected to dig deeper to pay for supplies, field trips and sporting events, as a result.

"Parents are burnt out. We're tired of bake sales to fundraise for the simplest things, when there is so much money being thrown at the Olympics," said Julianne Doctor of the Vancouver Parent Advisory Council. "And we're struggling just to make sure there is going to be soap and water in the washrooms." District parent advisory councils are asking citizens to complain to their elected officials about the cuts.

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Local Pacs 2007/2008:

Bingo :

CHARLES BLOOM SECONDARY SCHOOL PAC: $8,880.00
CLARENCE FULTON SECONDARY SCHOOL PAC: $19,600.02

KALAMALKA SECONDARY SCHOOL PAC: $13,560.00
KIDSTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PAC: $7,399.98

OKANAGAN LANDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PAC: $6,259.98

PLEASANT VALLEY SECONDARY SCHOOL PAC: $15,240.00

VERNON SECONDARY SCHOOL PAC: $20,320.02

WL SEATON SECONDARY SCHOOL PAC: $18,780.00

Direct Access Pac.

B.X. SCHOOL PAC: $8,300.00

BEAIRSTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PARENTS AS PARTNERS: $10,500.00
CLARENCE FULTON SECONDARY SCHOOL PAC: $18,840.00

DISTRICT PAC SD 22-VERNON: $2,500.00
ELLISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PAC: $8,300.00

HARWOOD PAC: $6,580.00
HILLVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PAC: $7,480.00

OKANAGAN LANDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PAC: $6,000.00

SILVER STAR ELEMENTARY PAC: $8,380.00

ST. JAMES SCHOOL PSG: $14,345.00

VERNON SECONDARY SCHOOL PAC: $20,420.00

WL SEATON SECONDARY SCHOOL PAC: $16,360.00

COLDSTREAM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PAC: $7,560.00
KALAMALKA SECONDARY SCHOOL PAC: $14,320.00
KIDSTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PAC: $7,440.00
LAVINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PAC: $3,560.00

CHARLES BLOOM SECONDARY SCHOOL PAC: $9,840.00
JW INGLIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PAC: $6,460.00

ARMSTRONG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PAC: $5,720.00

A.L. FORTUNE SECONDARY PAC: $7,760.00
ASHTON CREEK PAC: $1,800.00

ENDERBY PRESCHOOL SOC: $13,000.00