TORONTO — Schools across Ontario will divide up another $1.1 billion in provincial funding for repairs and modernization projects.
That’s on top of $1.6 billion already committed over the next two school years, for a total of $2.7 billion in renewal funds, which will pay to make repairs, update heating systems and modernize the electricity and plumbing in the buildings.
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Education Minister Mitzie Hunter says the money will also pay for new floors, walls, ceilings and school playing fields, but allocations for individual school boards won’t be known for a few weeks.
READ MORE: Ontario to invest $498M in 30 new schools, 26 renovations and 122 child care rooms
The government plans to publicly post detailed information regarding the condition and renewal needs of each of Ontario’s 4,900 public elementary and high schools, which have just over two million students.
Hunter says making sure schools are in a state of good repair is an essential part of supporting student achievement.
The parent group Fix Our Schools says Ontario schools need about $15 billion worth of repairs, so the new money is welcome but a plan is needed to address the backlog.
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