Local schools will receive $16.5 million for infrastructure improvements over the next two years.
The provincial government announced Monday that $1.1 billion will be divided between schools across Ontario for repairs and upgrades.
Thunder Bay school boards will receive an additional $16.5 million to repair and renew schools. Combined with previously delivered infrastructure funding, the total investment amounts to about $42 million.
The funding will allow the school boards to repair roofs, update HVAC units and renew electrical and plumbing systems. As well as renovating flooring, walls, ceilings, and playing fields.
“We’ve recognized for a very long time that there has been a real infrastructure deficit in the province,” said Minister of Municipal Affairs Bill Mauro.
“We’ve been investing heavily and this isn’t the beginning of investments in school retrofits but it’s a recommendation based on a new report based on building assessment conditions.”
The province increased its original commitment of $1.6 billion across the Ontario by $1.1 billion, which is going to benefit all three of the school boards in the region.
The Lakehead District School Board is getting an additional $10 million for a total of $25 million. The Catholic District School Board will be given $6 million for a total of $14 million and Conseil Scolaire De District Catholique Des Aurores Boréales will receive 400,000 for a total of $2.2 million.
The funding will be allocated to the school boards in proportion to their renewal needs.
Catholic school board Director of Education Pino Tassone said they’re overjoyed with the provincial government’s ongoing investments in the city’s schools.
"The Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board is very pleased to receive the significant additional investment in school renewal from the province," Tassone is quoted as saying in a news release issued to media Tuesday morning.
"This funding aligns very closely with the Board capital plan which has resulted in close to $100 million in capital improvements to our schools over the past decade.”
