Schools are being closed all over British Columbia due in part to
declining
enrollment and rigid
Ministry of Education guidelines, called Functional
Capacity.
We can make a difference by letting the Ministry of
Education know that we
want the way functional capacity is calculated
changed. We need the Ministry
to factor into the functional capacity,
a percentage allowance to recognize
space for programs such as daycares,
pre-schools, social services and many
other community based programs, which
support the individual needs of our
communities. Educational advancement in
supports for special needs students
requires the need for “Sensory” rooms,
which are not calculated in the current
capacity percentage, yet they are an
integral part of today’s school system.
Our special needs children are
important members of our public schools and
their needs have to be
met.
Having the Minister of Education consider other uses
within our schools when
determining functional capacity would allow our
schools to service entire
communities not just school age children.
Communities all over British Columbia
could address their individual needs
and come up with creative solutions for
classroom space and ultimately save
the taxpayer money.
