Feds, province announce back-to-school funding
Schools across Ontario will share in more than $763 million in funding from the federal government to re-open their facilities safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his government would provide more than $2 billion in funding to allow provinces and territories to work with local school boards to introduce measures that will help protect students and staff from the spread of COVID-19. The federal government was not prescriptive about how the money could be spent.
It’s anticipated the funding will be used to help adapt learning spaces, improve building ventilation, increase hand sanitation and hygiene and buy extra personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies.
"We respect the Constitution but we needed to find a way to help Canadians, and that's what we've done," said the Prime Minister.
Under the arrangement, the federal funding will be provided in two installments. The first will come this fall; the second early next year.
Ontario’s initial share of the money will amount to $381 million. That, says the province, is on top of the nearly $900 million it has provided to support provincial back-to-school plans.
“Ontario’s investments lead the nation in supporting priorities like more cleaning, physical distancing, testing, and hiring of staff to ensure a safe reopening of our schools this September,” said Education Minister Stephen Lecce. “The investment by the federal government complements the already landmark investments made by our government in support of safe and healthy schools in Ontario.”
The province plans to spend $200 million of the funding it receives on the implementation of what it calls its reopening plan. Half of that money will be used in conjunction with local school boards to hire more custodians, and make improvements to ventilation systems and other facility systems. A further $30 million will be spent on buying new personal protective equipment, and $70 million on hiring educators on a temporary basis.
The remaining funds will be split between spending on student transportation, on enhancing special education and mental health supports, on hiring more public health nurses, and on building the province’s remote learning program.
The province has also said it will set aside $50 million to cover unanticipated future costs.
The federal money announced on August 26 comes in addition to two other announcements the province has made with regard to back-to-school funding.
On July 30, it announced $300 million in new money for school boards. On August 13, it unlocked more than $500 million in reserves that would allow school boards to provide more physical distancing in classrooms, and make adjustments based on local needs.
Of that money, $50 million was earmarked to support improved ventilation, air quality and HVAC system effectiveness in schools.