To:The Honourable the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, in Legislature Assembled: WHEREAS the Langley Board of Education now projects a mind numbing financial debt of $14.2 million, with the potential for growth, for the 2008/09 and 2009/10 school years, WHEREAS despite a growing student population, Langley is not receiving sufficient funding to maintain existing programs (www.langleyteachers.com -2nd chalk board), WHEREAS without full funding to cover all education costs, the Langley Board of Education will be forced to close neighbourhood schools, reduce teaching time and slash critical student programs including but not limited to: Libraries, fine arts, sports, special education, ESL, counselling, reading recovery programs, field trips, parents as literary supporters (PALS), summer literacy and numeracy days and summer Rec n’Reading. THE UNDERSIGNED, CITIZENS AND PEOPLES OF BRITISH COLUMBIA HEREBY PETITION THIS HONORABLE HOUSE TO: 1. INCREASE Langley’s funding to cover the full cost of student education, thereby eliminating the $14.2 million dollar financial shortfall, 2. CEASE imposing and down loading costs onto Boards of Education, 3. AND commit to fully funding a quality public education system.