Kenora, ON, Canada / 89.5 The Lake
May 5, 2021 7:08 AM
Local school boards will be getting millions more in funding to combat COVID-19 in the coming school year.
In all, the Ontario government is investing more than $17 million in Kenora-Rainy River school boards.
The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is getting more than 3.9 million dollars more, including 1.15 million for temporary staffing.
At the Kenora Catholic District School Board, an extra two million dollars has been promised.
That includes 750 thousand for extra staffing.
Kenora-Rainy River Breakdown:
Keewatin-Patricia District School Board:
For the 2021-22 school year, through COVID-19 resources, the Keewatin-Patricia DSB is projected to receive over $3.9 million, including:
Open Roads Facebook from March 21
A financial shot in the arm for local school boards as a cloud of uncertainty surrounds the 2021 and 2022 school years.
The province is promising another year of COVID-19 support totaling $1.6 billion.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce says the funding is for such things as transportation, special education, reading support, summer programming, mental health investments, health and safety upgrades and help for students who have become disconnected from school and learning during the pandemic.
The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board can anticipate $3.9 million with $1.15 million earmarked for hiring temporary staff.
Director of Education Sherri-Lynne Pharand says, “We are grateful for the investment in intervention, mental health and well-being, The continued focus on student learning and student safety will help boards support students as we return from the pandemic.”
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Education Minister Stephen Lecce. Photo courtesy of the Ontario Government.
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A combined multi-million dollar investment from the provincial and federal governments will aim to keep students in northwestern Ontario as safe as possible from COVID-19.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce, Infrastructure and Communities Minister Catherine McKenna and provincial Minister of Infrastructure Laurie Scott announced the combined $656.5 million investment on April 14.
Leaders say the funding will support ventilation projects to improve air quality in classrooms, new water bottle refilling stations, network and broadband infrastructure improvements to support remote learning, and new walls and doors to enhance physical distancing spaces within schools.
Supplied photo
Schools across northwestern Ontario are getting more money to upgrade their facilities to protect students and staff from COVID-19.
A total of $656.5 million is being allocated as part of a new joint Canada/Ontario funding agreement.
The federal government is investing $525.2 million, while the province is responsible for more than $131.1 million.
Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce says the funding can be spent on projects like ventilation, air cooling systems, HVAC upgrades, physical distancing initiatives, installing handwashing stations or touchless faucets and soap dispensers.
The funding is available to install water bottle refilling stations and broadband expansion to support remote learning.