July 25, 2005

$135M in school repairs and construction underway

TORONTO

An unprecedented number of major repairs to windows, boilers and roofs are being made this summer to schools across the province, with renovations, expansions and even construction of new schools to begin later this year, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said last week.

Over $400 million in urgent repairs and construction is planned, rising to $1 billion once all boards have finalized their project plans for this school year. School boards are spending over $135 million on repair and renovation projects this summer. The renewal projects underway include: more than 260 projects for new windows to cut drafts; nearly 300 roofing projects to stop leaks; more than 200 projects to improve and replace boilers; improvement and repair projects around plumbing, heating and cooling systems, fire alarms and extinguishers. The work being done is all part of $4 billion worth of repairs, additions and replacement costs to Ontario’s publicly funded schools through the Good Places to Learn initiative.

McGuinty and Education Minister Gerard Kennedy were at Nelson Mandela School where work has begun on brick and stone repairs, new windows and lighting improvements Over the next three years, $4 billion will be spent on school renovations, new additions and buildings to meet space needs and new schools to replace old ones across the province.

DCN Staff

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