BARRIE, ONT. -- The Ontario government announced it is investing over $500 million to build 30 new schools, including three in Simcoe County and one in York Region.
"When I speak to parents, I hear the importance they place on having more schools in our community so their children can spend less time on the school bus and more time in the classroom," said Barrie-Innisfil MPP Andrea Khanjin.
The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board received provincial approval for a new elementary school to be built in Innisfil with 49 childcare spaces.
"Our financing of the new, yet-to-be-named elementary school in Innisfil, further demonstrates our government's historic investment in Ontario's schools and our overall commitment to supporting our students and families," said Education Minister Stephen Lecce.
The province also announced nearly $6 million for a new replacement school for Shanty Bay Public School in Oro-Medonte.
"When I got the phone call, I was with a group of people, and I looked around, and I saw tears in their eyes. This is so important to the community," said Oro-Medonte Mayor Harry Hughes.
Aurora and Bradford will also have new elementary schools.
"A lot of our students are being schooled in portables right now," said Bradford West Gwillimbury Mayor Rob Keffer.
The new school will be the rapidly growing town of Bradford's sixth facility.
"Hopefully, in the next year, we'll hear an announcement that there will be capital money for a new Bradford high school," Keffer added.
The province has earmarked a portion of the funding to upgrade 15 existing schools in Ontario by 2023, including replacing ageing heating and A/C systems, roof and window repairs and accessibility features.
The school funding announcement comes as Minister Lecce indicated Ontario's back to school plan would be revealed next week.
Premier Doug Ford has been signalling that he wants students in class five days a week.
