SAULT STE. MARIE --
The Algoma District School Board (ADSB) received an additional $1.8 million in funding last week to help with the upcoming school year.
“It was welcomed funding,” said Joe Santa Maria, executive superintendent of business and operation with the Algoma District School Board.
Late last month, Ottawa came up with $2 billion to be divided up among the provinces to help with a safe return to school.
Ontario got over $700 million of that $2 billion and the province decided how much each school board would receive.
ADSB had to hire 25 new teachers to offer remote learning to the roughly 1,200 students who decided to stay at home this year.
Before the federal government stepped up, Santa Maria said the provincial government only gave half a million dollars to pay for all the upgrades needed to offer a safe learning experience this year.
Santa Maria wouldn’t say how many teachers the provincial government funding supported, but did say the money was also used to purchase nearly 1,500 laptops or iPads for students as well.
Santa Maria said ADSB is still hoping to receive more funding to help out with the school year.
He added that the province just informed the board that the government will be paying for PPE this year, so that is one less thing the school board will need to pay for with the original half million dollars from Queens Park.
ADSB will be using its reserves to pay for the rest of the upgrades needed to have children in school this year.
