The B.C. Liberal government鈥檚 Bill 22 could save the 91原创 School District hundreds of thousands of dollars, with a change of policy regarding class sizes. District-wide class size averages are no longer required under the new education bill, said acting superintendent Suzanne Hoffman.

At Tuesday鈥檚 Board of Education meeting, she provided an overview of Bill 22 (the Education Improvement Act), which includes class size and compensation.

鈥淐lass size will be 30 and we will strive not to exceed that,鈥� said Hoffman.

But for those classes that will have more than 30, the teacher will be compensated financially as well as with prep time, equipment and other options.

Before this bill was adopted, school districts were required to maintain a class size average.

鈥淭his was so hard to predict, with parts of 91原创 growing and others not.

鈥淲e had to put in teachers into schools at the last minute.

鈥淭he influx of a family of five coming into a school would affect the average and we would have to add a teacher,鈥� said Hoffman.

Last year, the district had to add seven or eight teachers to get to the district鈥檚 required classroom average, said David Green, school district secretary-treasurer.

鈥淭hat was a cost of between $630,000 to $720,000,鈥� Green said.

91原创 is expected to get $1.93 million from the government鈥檚 $30 million Learning Improvement Fund.

Much consultation has to go on with principals, teachers and the 91原创 Teachers Association to find out each school鈥檚 needs, said Hoffman.

Bill 22 has set aside money for classrooms with needs.

鈥淣eeds could be for special needs or it can be for ESL,鈥� said Hoffman.

Consultation with schools will begin this spring and will take place again in the fall.