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Document given to all Quesnel School Trustees before their August 28, 2002 meeting:

THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT THE PROPOSAL TO KEEP THE WELLS BARKERVILLE SCHOOL OPEN

Lost Revenue is the Same as an Expenditure
There are 18 elementary aged children in Wells who will be here for the school year. Of these, four are registered at Barlow Creek. The rest are expecting the Wells-Barkerville School to be open or are planning to home school. This has resulted in lost revenue to the Quesnel School District 28 of $74,312.

A total of 5 children (2 elementary and 3 high school) are leaving the School District 28 as a result of the uncertainty in regard to the Wells Barkerville School. This amounts to $26,540 in revenue lost to School District 28.

The total amount of revenue lost to the School District is $100,852. These monies are now lost to the School District. Keeping the school open would recapture $74,312 in revenues.

Hidden Costs
There will be costs for the School Building even when closed. The building is zoned Institutional and can not be changed. Island Mountain Arts can not and will not take over the building. No one will buy or lease this building. There will be heat and snow removal costs in 2002. We estimate those costs to be $18,000. A Public Partnership with the District of Wells would relieve the School Board of any responsibility for the building, except for the portion being used by them.

Public Partnership Proposal
The public private partnership would save the School District between $32,000 to $42,300 (over 2001 actual costs) and regain $74,312 in lost per capita revenues.

This model is working in Prince George and could work here if there was the political will to make it work. It can be tailor-made to suit the requirements of the School Board. There are many points in this agreement model that could be negotiated for even greater savings.

What our children bring to the table
Our school brings to the School Board coffers the $100,000 Small Community Supplement (you would not have it, if we did not exist) and a potential of 18 x $5308 in per capita grants - a total of $195,544. Your figures say it costs $124,000 to run our school (our figures say less).

Wells is a separate Municipality
Wells is a separate municipality (the District of Wells) with its own Mayor and Council. It is not under the Cariboo Regional District. This is why it was the District of Wells that is offering to enter a Public Partnership with School District 28.

It is a myth that the Quesnel School District will save $100,000 by closing the Wells Barkerville School.

Summary of Children Intending to be in Wells for the 2002/03 School Year