Questions over whether school inflation relief fund helps B.C. families most in need

With families struggling to keep up with inflation, the B.C. government previously announced a $60 million fund to provide a bit of a break right before the start of the school year.

But questions are now being raised about how some schools have decided to use the funds.

The money was doled out to schools through the Student and Family Affordability fund. The province left it up to each school district to decide how to distribute the money.

In a tweet, Patti Bacchus, a former Vancouver School Board chair, shared a screenshot from one school that outlined plans to hand out a $50 grocery store gift card to all students.

“I think it’s particularly offensive to families who really are struggling and could really use that support, and perhaps more than the $50 gift card is going to provide for any family is really not going to go far,” she told CityNews.

Families were told that if they decided they wanted to give their card to another family, they could do so by returning it to the school accountant.

The school says it made the decision after families were asked to provide feedback and input in a survey.

I have questions. #bced #vanpoli pic.twitter.com/yZcVGsW5hE

— Patti Bacchus (@pattibacchus) December 12, 2022

Bacchus feels giving grocery cards to all students — even to families with no clear need — is not the most efficient way to use this cash.

“It concerned me that every teenager would be going home with a $50 gift card and the question I have is, is that the most effective way to distribute public funding to families? And is that going to have the kind of impact I would hope that allocation kind of would?” Bacchus asked.

She takes issue that some schools have decided to go this route, while others have tried to identify which families could benefit most from the additional money.

“It could have been targeted more effectively to families who are really struggling, and we know there are many who are. So as a taxpayer, it offends me that our tax dollars are being tossed out there without the kind of thought and planning that I would expect from a government,” Bacchus said.

However, Vancouver School Board Deputy Superintendent David Nelson points out there is a targeted component to this, adding the district has held some of that funding to use for specific programs for students in greater need.

“We’ve also put aside some funding to work with partners around community food programming, as well as offsetting costs families would otherwise pay around access to certain fine arts performances and opportunities,” he explained.

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“Yes, we want to support those families who need support, but there’s also an intent in the fund to support families generally and making sure we’re addressing affordability concerns and access to food and food security for families in general across the district.”

Nelson points out schools were also forced to quickly decide how to distribute the money, given the funding was announced right before the start of the school year.

“Our approach has been to recognize that each of our school communities are a little bit different. One school community’s needs may not be what other school communities’ needs are,” he added, noting staff in schools have tried to do what they can to figure out the best use of the money.

In a statement to CityNews, B.C. Minister of Education and Child Care, Rachna Singh, says she’s heard of some good uses for the fund.

“It warms my heart to hear the many positive stories of how the Fund is being used to support students and families who need it most, such as the expansion of access to nutritional food before and after school, the creation of a weekly family hot breakfast and a mobile food pantry for students,” she said.

Singh also indicated University Hill Secondary School has changed how it uses the provincial funds. CityNews has made calls to clarify how.

Meanwhile, the Vancouver School Board tells CityNews in a statement that “While the school’s administrators initially consulted with their PAC to assess the school community’s preferences regarding the funds it was allocated, they’ve decided to further survey students’ families regarding their needs before finalizing their plans.”

That is expected to be determined in the coming weeks, the statement adds.