The Near North District School Board is getting a $58 million provincial boost to bring Parry Sound’s planned JK to Grade 12 mega-school to life.
That from Education Minister Stephen Lecce who says the province has greenlit the school’s tender. That means the local school board has been given the provincial go-ahead to open the floor for bids on who’s going to build the new school.
Lecce thanked Parry Sound Muskoka MPP Graydon Smith saying he’s a champion of getting the funding to build the Parry Sound school at Queen’s Park.
“The awarding of the tender and the start of construction gives us a great sense of hope that we can build schools in Ontario, particularly in remote or northern communities. This is a reminder that we’re not going to lose sight that we have a responsibility to invest in modern schools outside the GTHA,” Lecce says.
Lecce says the province is excited to build a modern school that’s going to support STEM education and skill trades.
“There’s an affordable childcare component, 49 spaces for young families moving in that don’t want to be in a wait list. And the timing is perfect because we just announced a deal with the federal government that slashes childcare fees by 50 percent, like $8,000 to $10,000 a child,” he says.
While the incoming school was the focus on Monday, Lecce was also asked what the province is doing to make sure students at the old schools are not being overlooked. He says there is maintenance funding provided to the school boards.
“The Auditor General recommends about 2.5% of our overall budget, which is about $1.4 billion. That’s what we do every year. We provide that funding every year to school boards. They then decide how they’re going to move those dollars to maintain their facilities, keep them in a good place, but while they maintain them, we build them,” Lecce says.
According to a release sent to media, the funding is split into $53.3 million for the new school and $5.2 million for childcare.
Once completed, officials say the mega school, to be located at 111 Isabelle Street, will deliver 815 student spaces, 49 childcare spaces, 3 new childcare rooms, and 1 Early ON room for local families.
***With files from Mathew Reisler