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School off B.C. funding list

Westwind elementary already has quality playpark

Westwind elementary has been scratched from the list of 44 B.C. schools slated to receive a new playground following an announcement made by Premier Christy Clark Friday in Delta Friday.

"The district has confirmed that Westwind should not have been on that list," said a spokesperson for the Ministry of Education Tuesday.

"It was an administrative oversight," she added.

The $8 million playground project is intended for elementary and middle schools in B.C. that currently don't have playgrounds.

Westwind, in fact, has a relatively new playground, complete with space net.

The money that would have gone to Westwind will now go back into the general pot for playground upgrades.

"The province is providing $8 million over the next two years to assist with the installation, the upgrade and the replacement of playground equipment for public elementary and middle schools all across British Columbia," Clark said in a news conference at South Delta's South Park elementary school playground.

Clark spent a few minutes playing with kids at the playground before sliding down the slide a few times herself.

"It really does make a difference - playgrounds for kids - because they are an extension of the classroom," Clark said.

"They are a way for children to learn all those things that they need, that they may not learn sitting down in the classroom, but that are nonetheless a really important part of education, (such as) learning to get along, learning to play independently and getting the physical activity that gets their brain going."

The announcement comes as two school districts - Kelowna and Prince George - are cancelling recess due to the teachers' job action.

Lower Mainland schools listed as recipients for the initial funding include Woodward in Richmond, Adams Road and Hazelgrove in Surrey, and Citadel, Como Lake, Kwayhquitlum and Maillard in Coquitlam.

Playgrounds that were built this year will get reimbursed $50,000 and new schools will be built with playgrounds as part of the government's capital project agreement with school districts.

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