Ontario’s education minister was in town Wednesday morning touting previously announced funding for Simcoe County and Muskoka schools.
Minister Mitzie Hunter reaffirmed $18 million in funding for the Simcoe County District School Board and the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board during a news conference and tour at Barrie North Collegiate Institute.
The public board is using a portion of the money to install new windows at Barrie North, expand the parking lot and build an Autism Spectrum Disorder classroom.
The school is also getting nine new classrooms and a cafeteria as part of $10 million in renovations. Crews have completed the steel framing, but students will have to deal with construction for the rest of the school year.
"Construction area is cordoned off, students have no access to the construction,” says Barrie North principal Greg Brucker. “They're moving things through the back so we're trying to keep things as safe as possible.”
Here’s a breakdown of some of the other upgrades:
- New paving and asphalt at Willow Landing Elementary School
- Improved HVAC system at Eastview Secondary School
- New roofing at Holy Trinity Catholic High School
- New roofing at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic School
- Improved HVAC system at St. Jean de Brebeuf Catholic School
In June the province announced $15 million in funding for the SCDSB, and $3 million for the catholic board.
The money will be rolled out over the next two years. As for how the remainder of it will be spent, the school boards will prioritize urgent repairs.
"We will get to the high and urgent needs but there is still work to be done,” John Dance, chair of the SCDSB.
Even when these projects are done, the public board has a back log of projects on its wish list.
"Because we have a lot of older schools in Simcoe County, it's in the range of $300 million if you count everything that's of need."
It’s an expensive list that the board says will be a priority even when this work is done.
