Province says $41M will be used to repair York Region schools

CTVnews.ca
July 5, 2016
By Courtney Greenberg

A total of $41 million will be allotted to repair and renew schools across the York Region, the province has announced.

Vaughan MPP Steven Del Duca and Ontario Education Minister Mitzie Hunter made the announcement at a news conference at 11 a.m. at Joseph A. Gibson Public School.

The investment will help schools in the York Region District School Board and York Catholic District School Board fix roofs, update HVAC units and modernize electrical and plumbing systems over the next two years.

Visible elements at schools that impact learning and well-being - from playing fields to floors, walls and ceilings - will also be improved.

This comes after a June 27 announcement, when Hunter said aging Toronto schools would receive $256 million in funding over the next two years “to help address school boards’ growing renewal and repair backlog.”

The $41 million and $256 million are part of a of $1.1 billion investment for upgrades and repairs in schools across the provinces. The total amount invested in Ontario schools, including new funding, is $2.7 billion over the next two years.

Del Duca said on Tuesday that students and teachers deserve safe places to learn and work.

“I’m proud that our government is making a historic investment to repair and renew schools in Vaughan, and all across the province, because ensuring schools are in a state of good repair also supports the academic achievement and well-being of students.”

There are 50 projects underway in York Region this summer and $20 million will be spent on school construction.

Hunter said she is making this a priority “so that our schools are in better shape when our students return after summer.”