The New Westminster School District says it is restoring nearly $20,000 in funding for New Westminster Secondary School’s musical theatre department that was raised by students from the program.
It’s also claiming it never really took the funding away from the department in the first place.
The district posted a statement on its website this week in response to an uproar among parents, who say the $18,400 in fundraised money was removed from the theatre department’s account without the consent of those who raised it.
Jenn Vander Zalm, whose daughter is active in the program, was one of the parents who drafted a letter in early January detailing the accusation and demanding the return of the funds.
She says she and other parents have been instrumental in keeping the program running.
“It casts a shadow of doubt, for sure,” Vander Zalm said of the district’s actions in an interview with CTV News.
“When you take money away, you …