education

Paddon announces more funding for assistance fund in Fraser-Cascade School District

Apr 5, 2024 | 5:55 AM

HOPE — Families grappling with the financial burden of school-related expenses in Chilliwack-Kent and across British Columbia can expect a boost in support, according to Chilliwack-Kent MLA Kelli Paddon.

Paddon announced the Fraser-Cascade school district is set to receive $100,000 from the provincial government under the Student and Family Affordability Fund. The program empowers schools within the district to extend direct assistance to families in need.

“Kids should never be denied the opportunity to explore their passions, whether inside the classroom or outside of it,” said Paddon, when speaking to the importance of accessible opportunities for all students.

The funding will be instrumental in covering various student essentials, including school supplies, fees, and class trips. Additionally, it’s meant to ease the financial barriers associated with participation in extracurricular activities such as sports teams and music programs.

The province has injected and additional $20 million into the fund this spring. Over the past two years, more than $60 million has been channeled through the initiative to school districts across British Columbia.

A news release from the BC NDP caucus says the initiative aligns with the province’s commitment to bolstering school food programs. The Feeding Futures Fund, representing the largest investment of its kind in British Columbia’s history, has allocated $214 million over three years to enhance and expand local school food initiatives. In the current school year, the district has received $350 thousand to bolster its food programs.

School District 78 serves the communities of Boston Bar, Yale, Hope, Silver Creek, Kent, Harrison, and Agassiz.