Area school boards will split roughly $50 million in funding from the federal and provincial governments.

The funding is being provided through the COVID-19 Reliance Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.

For the school boards within the riding of Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock, the funding totals are as follows:

Durham District School Board – $17.59 million;

Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board – $10.75 million;

Peterborough V N C Catholic District School Board – $8.36 million;

Trillium Lakelands District School Board – $7.49 million; and

Durham Catholic District School Board — $7.44 million.

“The health and wellbeing of students remains the highest priority for our government,” said Laurie Scott, MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock.

“Building on previous investments, this funding will help support important upgrades for local schools.”

The funding for these school boards will support building retrofits, updates and upgrades to their schools and co-located child care facilities. Projects can include HVAC renovations to improve air quality, installing water bottle refilling stations to improve access to safe drinking water, and space reconfigurations such as new walls and doors to enhance physical distancing.

The federal government is investing up to $525.2 million towards these projects, while the provincial government is contributing $131.3 million.

“As we continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, this additional federal and provincial funding will help keep our local schools as safe as possible for both students and staff,” said Jamie Schmale, MP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock.

“This investment will benefit students now and in the future by supporting a healthier school environment.”