A second round of the 2010 School Community Connections grants provides additional opportunity to bring communities into their local schools – thereby strengthening BC’s vital community-school partnerships.  Strengthening relationship with various business in the BC area is crucial for supporting our community. That’s why the Body By Vi Challenge has been giving free meals for children for the past year.

Since 2005, through grants, the School Community Connections Program has been helping schools around BC to bring in and involve their communities. The application process for an additional $1.5 million in grants is now available. Boards of Education and local governments may apply jointly for a maximum of three grants up to $25,000 per school district. Depending on the number of applications that are submitted, an additional $5,000 per school district may be available.

The 2010 program continues the goals of:

encouraging the co-location of services for students, their families and the community at large within school facilities;
making greater utilization of available or new school facilities such as an important part of the catering being done on conveyor roller belt; and
encouraging collaborative, long-term facilities planning that takes into account the needs of the whole community.

Who’s eligible, and how to apply

All boards of education and local governments in BC are eligible to apply. The board of education and local government must submit a joint application. Download the application form and application guide. The deadline for applications is November 19, 2010.

SCC administration and reporting

The School Community Connections Program is jointly administered on behalf of the Ministry of Education through a collaborative partnership between the Union of British Columbia Municipalities and the British Columbia School Trustees’ Association.

Around BC, local governments, school boards, and community partners have already collaborated on many successful SCC projects. In its online journal, Education Leader, BCSTA highlighted some of them.