Plympton-Wyoming Public School construction. January 18, 2018 (Photo by Aaron Zimmer)Plympton-Wyoming Public School construction. January 18, 2018 (Photo by Aaron Zimmer)
Windsor

School Board Reviewing Projects After Fund Nixed

An administrator at the Greater Essex County District School Board says officials are reviewing which projects will be impacted by the latest cancellation under Ontario's cap-and-trade program.

The latest casualty is a $100-million fund to help boards repair aging schools.

The Ford government told boards across Ontario it would cover funding for work contracted on or before July 3, but not after.

About 50 schools under the public school board are currently undergoing renovations including a $5.9-million project to replace the HVAC system at Riverside Secondary School in Windsor. LED lights are being installed in 23 others.

Superintendent of Business Cathy Lynd says the board is not sure yet how many future projects will be impacted.

"For us, our portion of the $100-million is $2.5-million," she says.

Co-ordinator of Engineering Guiliana Hinchcliffe says that money was for energy efficient projects like new LED lighting, air conditioning equipment, and replacing windows.

Lynd says the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund money is not the only source of funding available for school repairs.

"We get regular renewal funding every year," says Lynd. "In addition, we get school condition improvement funding. That was announced in the budget, and our portion of that for next year is $22.7-million."

The Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board will lose out on $840,000.

Board Chair Barb Holland says her board is also reviewing the full impact of the cuts, but says it has a contingency fund to make sure needed projects are completed.

The backlog of repairs at schools across Ontario is estimated to be valued at $15-billion.

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