Liberals give area schools more money

McGuinty Government strengthens area schools funding formula.

Full details contained in MPP Monique Smith's news release below.

********************

The McGuinty government is strengthening public education and improving the funding formula by investing an additional $309 million in public funding over the next two years, Nipissing MPP Monique Smith announced today.

“Since taking office we have been working together to make public education the best education, including fixing a flawed funding formula,” said Smith. “I believe that this commitment today is the fix our school boards here in Nipissing have been waiting for to put them on firm financial ground.”

The government is providing an additional $182 million for the 2007-08 school year, in addition to the $781 million funding increase announced in March.

Details of local funding are as follows:

Conseil scolaire catholique Franco-Nord

New August Investment $524,643

Overall change vs. 2006-07 (August and March Investment)
$3,485,085

TOTAL 2007-08 FUNDING
$45,033,242


Nipissing Parry Sound Catholic District School Board

New August Investment
$370,550

Overall change vs. 2006-07 (August and March Investment)
$1,516,257

TOTAL 2007-08 FUNDING $37,718,891


Near North District School Board

New August Investment $2,154,776

Overall change vs. 2006-07 (August and March Investment)
$5,034,873

TOTAL 2007-08 FUNDING $123,270,922


Conseil scolaire public du Nord-Est de l'Ontario

New August Investment
$519,108

Overall change vs. 2006-07 (August and March Investment)
$2,278,703

TOTAL 2007-08 FUNDING $28,708,710

This investment will support further improvements to the education funding formula through:

- $41 million to fund more 300 vice-principals in large schools
- $20 million to improve the maintenance and operation of our schools
- $12 million to continue transportation funding reform by ensuring boards receive funding that more accurately reflects the real costs of school bus operation and maintenance
- $20 million to improve support for Education Assistants
- $52 million to ensure funding for professionals, para-professionals, secretaries and supply teachers more closely reflects actual school board costs
- $20 million to fund 240 more primary teachers to help with the implementation of smaller primary class sizes
- $5 million for school office supplies
- $12 million in additional support for rural schools

“School boards worked hard this year to put together strong programs and balanced budgets,” said Education Minister Kathleen Wynne. “This enhancement will help to alleviate many of the pressures that boards have told me they face and will ensure they can continue to provide a stable learning environment for our students.”

For 2008-09, an additional $127 million will be provided to further strengthen the funding formula by better matching funding with current costs. This investment will focus on additional areas that boards have identified, such as English-as-a-Second-Language, schools in areas of local growth, adult education, school board operations and local education priorities.

The government will also review the progress made in improving the funding formula by 2010. The review will evaluate whether the funding formula supports the government’s education priorities for improved achievement in all our schools around the province.

Since 2003, the McGuinty government has made significant improvements to how education funding is delivered. These investments are producing results for Ontario’s students with rising student achievement, smaller primary class sizes and higher graduation rates.

Since taking office, the government has increased education funding by $3.7 billion — an increase of $2,156 per student, or 29 per cent. For 2007-08, education funding has increased by $963 million or $556 per student compared to last year.

“When we get public education right, we get the best citizens, the best workers, the best jobs and the best society,” said Premier Dalton McGuinty. “Today’s announcement builds on four years of progress and determination to make public education the best education.”

********************