[BCMA MBEN] BCMA: Impact of Eliminated School Fees on Field Trips?
Jim Harding
JHarding@MuseumsAssn.bc.ca
Fri, 19 Jan 2007 16:03:13 -0800
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<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt">Since the ruling by the BC Supreme Court this fall stating that BC
school districts cannot charge fees "for any materials or equipment
required to finish a course leading to graduation", or "for field trips
considered necessary to the curriculum", the repercussions for school
districts and the fates of school programs are just beginning to come to
light.</span></font></div>
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<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt">For additional background information:</span></font></div>
<div align="left"><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2006/10/02/school-fees.html#skip300x250"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt"><u>Court
clamps down on B.C. school fees</u></span></font></a></div>
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<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt">And, (please copy & paste these URL's into your web-browser):</span></font></div>
<div align="left"><font face="Arial" color="#0000ff"><span style="font-size:10pt">http://weblogs.elearning.ubc.ca/newproposals/archives/031690.html</span></font></div>
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<div align="left"><font face="Arial" color="#0000ff"><span style="font-size:10pt">http://www.bcsta.org/pub/edufax/Sept-9-01.htm</span></font></div>
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<div align="left"><font face="Arial" color="#0000ff"><span style="font-size:10pt">http://www.bccpac.bc.ca/forms/School_Fees_Info.pdf</span></font></div>
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<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt">How will this ruling impact school field trips to BC's museums, art
galleries and heritage or historic sites? How will</span></font><font face="Arial" color="#0000ff"><span style="font-size:10pt">,</span></font><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt">
or could your
institution be affected?</span></font></div>
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<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt">The BC Museums Association is collecting "potential impact"
statements from BC (only) institutions that are, or likely to be,
adversely affected by school district measures that may result, or have
already resulted from this ruling.</span></font></div>
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<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt">Submissions will be compiled, posted to the BCMA website and
forwarded to the BC Heritage Branch and Ministers, The Honourable
Shirley Bond (Education) and The Honourable Stan Hagen (Tourism,
Sport and the Arts).</span></font></div>
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<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt">Please respond by "Reply" and inserting your responses to each point,
below, (Confidential replies also welcome, see below):</span></font></div>
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<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt"><b>1. Has your institution been, or will be, affected by the school fees
ruling?</b> (Please provide the name and location of your institution):</span></font></div>
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<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt"><b>2. If 'Yes' or 'Possibly', please list the details,</b> (ie. school visits, other
school or student programming, affect on overall visitation, actual or
potential revenue loss, impact on staff, etc)(Point form, please):</span></font></div>
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<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt"><b>3. If applicable, what percentage</b> (and/or actual $$$-amount), <b>of
your institution's annual revenue relies on school visits and other
student programming?</b> Are there other funding sources that may be
lost or diminished if school visit programs are curtailed or eliminated?</span></font></div>
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<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt"><b>4. Has your institution had discussions with your school district
about the future of school visits?</b>  If so, what is the nature of these
discussions and likely outcomes?</span></font></div>
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<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt"><b>5. If applicable, what measures will or would your institution take
to offset any adverse affect of the school fees ruling?</b></span></font></div>
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<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt"><b>6. Any other comments? </b>(Point form, please).</span></font></div>
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<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt">To Reply in confidence, please Forward your response to:</span></font></div>
<div align="left"><font face="Arial" color="#0000ff"><span style="font-size:10pt">JHarding@museumsassn.bc.ca</span></font></div>
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<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt"><u>ALSO</u>:  <b>Youth Employment Programs</b> - As we enter the customary
application season for spring and summer student programs, and in
light of the announced federal cuts (September 25), please visit the
BCMA website (main homepage) and take our Online Survey and/or
view the findings-to-date at:
</span></font><font face="Arial" color="#0000ff"><span style="font-size:10pt">http://www.museumsassn.bc.ca/content/home.asp</span></font></div>
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<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt">Thank you once again for your input!</span></font></div>
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<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt">_______________________________</span></font></div>
<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt">Jim Harding, ED</span></font></div>
<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt">BC Museums Association</span></font></div>
<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt">(250) 356-5694</span></font></div>
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