McGuinty Government Invests In New Schools

- Alexander's Public School in Burlington - opened for the 2006-07 school year - Bruce Trail Public School in Milton - opened for the 2006-07 school year - Hawthorne Village Public School in Milton - expanded with an addition for the 2006-07 school year - West Oak Trails Public School No.3 in Oakville - will open for the 2007-08 school year - Georgetown South Public School in Georgetown - will open for the 2007-08 school year. This funding is part of a $1 billion investment to build 100 new schools announced in October 2006 and is in addition to the money boards receive to build new schools based on overall student enrolment and the capacity of the board. The $1 billion includes: - $10 million annually to support $137 million worth of new school construction in boards that need more space for growing student populations - $50 million annually to support $700 million invested to replace schools that are in poor condition, as part of the government's comprehensive $4 billion Good Places to Learn initiative to renew Ontario's schools - $16 million over four years to support $220 million invested to ensure French-language school boards can provide schools in areas where Franco-Ontarians live. The 100 new schools will be in addition to the 200 that have already been opened or are in construction thanks to McGuinty government investments. "The previous government set neighbourhoods against each other and we have worked to solve this problem," said Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn. "I applaud our government's efforts to support expanding boards with enrolment challenges and I'm happy to see that the growth needs of my community are being met. "Growing communities across Ontario will benefit from new school facilities just like these at Alexander's Public School," added Wynne. "This is one more way that our government is reaching every student and providing the resources and supports they need to succeed." Disponible en français www.edu.gov.on.ca www.ontario.ca/progress Backgrounder ------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW SCHOOLS FOR ONTARIO'S STUDENTS The McGuinty government understands that a school is much more than just a building where teaching and learning occurs. Our schools also serve as hubs for Ontario's communities, improving our quality of life and building the future prosperity of our people. That's why in October 2006 our government announced a $1 billion investment to build approximately 100 new schools. This is in addition to the 200 new schools that have already been opened or are in construction thanks to McGuinty government investments. This investment is part of the government's comprehensive $4 billion Good Places to Learn initiative to renew Ontario's schools. Funding for new school construction Working with school boards to assess their capital needs has prompted the Ministry of Education to create new capital grants to support school construction and expansion. The ministry will continue to work with boards to make capital funding as responsive as possible to unique circumstances. Traditionally, boards were able to build or expand schools when their overall enrolment surpassed their overall capacity. This funding model - called the New Pupil Places grant - tended to generate funding for boards with growing enrolment. The ministry has built on this grant by creating new components to build schools in growth areas and areas where francophone students are not being served. As new neighbourhoods are built and communities grow, many boards experience pockets of growth, although their overall enrolment may be declining or stable. To address this, the ministry created the Growth Schools grant. Starting in 2006/07, the ministry will provide $10 million annually to support $137 million in new school construction. French school boards often do not have schools in certain areas where Franco-Ontarians live, so they are unable to generate grants based on enrolment. Beginning in 2006-07, to assist these boards, the ministry is providing $16 million over four years to support $220 million to build new schools. Prohibitive-to-repair schools The age of some facilities and unattended repairs have left some schools in a state where it would cost more to repair than to rebuild these schools. Replacing these schools is a priority. To assist boards in replacing these schools that are in poor condition, beginning in 2006/07, the ministry is providing $50 million annually to support $700 million in construction projects. Currently, the ministry is asking boards to determine whether there are schools to be added or removed from the list of prohibitive-to-repair schools. Boards will apply for funding to replace or retire the schools on the list. Based on local needs and rigorous community consultation, boards may decide to: - replace a school on the same site or nearby - replace several schools with one new school - close the school and expand or add new facilities to an existing school. Disponible en français www.edu.gov.on.ca www.ontario.ca/progress Backgrounder ------------------------------------------------------------------------- MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT HELPING HALTON STUDENTS SUCCEED More Halton students are achieving their full potential thanks to three years of more relevant learning choices in high schools and greater literacy and numeracy support. The number of Grade 3 and 6 students achieving the provincial standard in reading, writing and math is up nine percentage points to 65 per cent at the Halton District School Board and eight percentage points to 73 per cent at the Halton Catholic District School Board. The pass rate on the Grade 10 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test has risen by 10 and 12 percentage points respectively since 2002. These achievements and others have been made possible through increased funding of nearly $119 million or 25 per cent since 2002-03 for the Halton boards. Using this investment, the boards have been able to: - Add 129 primary teachers over the past three years to reduce class sizes and move Ontario closer to achieving a cap of 20 students per primary class. - Add 59 specialist elementary teachers to provide a full range of learning including physical education, arts, music and drama. - Repair or replace 22 sets of windows, 34 roofs, 18 boilers and 45 other projects through a $21.8 million Good Place to Learn investment in 2005-06. - Launch nine innovative Student Success Lighthouse pilot projects during the past three years to help high school students earn credits and return to school. Funded through investments totaling more than $2.8 million, these projects include an environmental studies co-op program and more online courses. - Add 59 Student Success Teachers who identify and support high school students needing extra help to succeed, provide more options for learning and monitor student progress. - Start two Specialist High Skills Majors in manufacturing and landscaping that prepare students for further education and challenging careers in those industries. Disponible en français www.edu.gov.on.ca www.ontario.ca/progress

Ministry of Education

McGuinty Government Invests In New Schools

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