When the local
schools in British Columbia, Canada, needed new
playground equipment, members of the Parent Advisory Councils didn't wait for government funding - they raised the money themselves.
Now, the B.C. government is reimbursing PACs in 31 school districts with $2.4 million for
commercial playground equipment they already purchased, Canada Broadcasting Company reports.
Premier Christy Clark announced $8 million over two years in funding earlier this fall that would be allocated in the local budget to spend on 44 new
school playgrounds or to upgrade equipment at more than 100 schools, according to the news source. Schools will get as much as $50,000 in reimbursements through this plan, according to the Vancouver Sun.
Education Minister George Abbott said that the reimbursements could be used to further enhance current
playgrounds - schools may want to design
natural playgrounds or promote
inclusive play by making their structures more
accessible to children of all abilities, CBC reports.
"Parent advisory councils work hard throughout the school year to raise money to support students and their learning, and it's great to be able to give back some of their hard-earned dollars," Abbott told the news outlet.