BC

Back to school means back to school traffic zones and the RCMP are out in force in the Okanagan. In other parts of BC there are news schools and zones for drivers to be cautious of.

As the new school year begins, six new schools costing approximately $183 million will open their doors for the very first time today.

The five new replacement schools in established neighbourhoods - and the one new school in a rapidly growing area of Langley - can accommodate up to 4,515 K-12 students.

New school:

• Lynn Fripps Elementary - 510 students - $13M (Langley)

New replacement schools:

• Begbie View Elementary - 330 students - $15M (Revelstoke)
• Abbotsford Senior Secondary - 1,100 students - $44M (Abbotsford)
• Carson Graham Secondary - 1,100 students - $38M (North Vancouver)
• Alberni District Secondary - 1,000 students - $58M (Port Alberni)
• Yarrow Community school - 475 students - $15M (Chilliwack)

Over the past year, the B.C. government has committed $353 million in funding for new-school and school expansion projects as announced by Premier Christy Clark in October 2011. As well, since May 2012, more than $122 million has also been committed as part of government's seismic mitigation program to provide structural upgrades at 14 high-priority schools.

Quick Facts:

• The September estimated full-time public school enrolment for the 2012-13 school year is 534,691, compared to 540,696 for the September 2011 estimate (6,005 fewer students).
• Estimated operating funding to school districts is a record $4.725 billion this year. The average per-pupil funding for 2012-13 is now an estimated $8,493, up 36 per cent since 2000-01.
• Since 2001, the B.C. government has spent more than $2.1 billion to complete 93 new and replacement schools, 150 additions, 27 renovations and 22 site acquisitions, and has committed more than $4 billion on school capital and maintenance projects throughout British Columbia.