$300 million going to Nipissing’s four local school boards

That's an increase of $7,080,000 over last year

20210505 silver birches elementary school turl

Silver Birches Elementary School on Marshall Ave. is part of the Near North Board.Jeff Turl/BayToday

The government of Ontario will provide Nipissing’s four local school boards with a combined total of over $300 million for the 2021-22 school year through the Grants for Student Needs (GSN) program. That's an increase of $7,080,000 over last year.

In addition, the Boards will receive a combined total of $15 million for COVID-19 Supports.

“Today’s announcement is terrific news for students and hard-working Nipissing families,” said MPP Vic Fedeli.

Local school board GSN allocations for the 2021-22 school year include:

Near North District School Board - projected to receive $144.8 million in funding, an increase of $3.0 million over last year, including:

$20.1 million in special education funding, a $520,000 increase over last year.
$12.1 million in funding for transportation, a $280,000 increase over last year.
$1.3 million in funding for Indigenous education, a $47,000 increase over last year.

Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board - is projected to receive $46.6 million in funding, an increase of $480,000 over last year, including:

$7.4 million in special education funding, a $170,000 increase over last year.
$3.7 million in funding for transportation, a $19,000 increase over last year.
$630,000 in funding for Indigenous education, with $64,000 transferred into the Program Leadership Grant.

Conseil scolaire public du Nord-Est de l'Ontario - is projected to receive $53.0 million in funding, an increase of $2.3 million over last year, including:

$8.1 million in special education funding, a $350,000 increase over last year.
$2.3 million in funding for transportation, a $110,000 increase over last year.
$110,000 in funding for Indigenous education, with $70,000 transferred into the Program Leadership Grant

Conseil scolaire catholique Franco-Nord - is projected to receive $56.8 million in funding, an increase of $1.3 million over last year, including:

$9.3 million in special education funding, a $270,000 increase over last year.
$3.9 million in funding for transportation, a $110,000 million increase over last year.
$210,000 in funding for Indigenous education, with $70,000 transferred into the Program Leadership Grant.

The local boards will also get money that will be used for expenses such as enhanced cleaning protocols, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and critical supplies and equipment, and temporary staffing supports.