The reserve accounts of school boards can now be used to help with back-to-school plans.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce says boards can access previous government money that has been sitting unused for some time.
Lecce says the money can be used to enhance physically distancing in classrooms, hire more teachers and staff or even lease sites off-school property as temporary classes.
Lecce is also announcing the availability of $50 million for schools to improve the ventilation and air quality systems.
“We face a very difficult time. Adversity in our economy and our society and the health of our children. Now is the time to put those tax dollars respectfully to work. I mean they are literally sitting there. They are cash on hand that can be utilized.”
Lecce adds all options are still on the table as a new school year approaches.
He stresses if more time is needed to open the doors, he will consider it.
“If school boards are saying to me that a bit of a more cautious restart, a staggered restart, having lower numbers of students on mass enter a school and they rather do it through that approach. Look I’m going to support any concept to de-risk the circumstance for kids.”
