Waterloo Region schools to share $1B in funding

Public and Catholic boards in region can expect $11,381 in basic funding to educate each student

WATERLOO REGION — School reopening remains unclear in September due to the pandemic.

The cost is more clear, however, with more than $1 billion on its way to local school boards.

Ontario announced annual education funding Friday and also provided reopening options. Public and Catholic school boards in this region can expect $11,381 in basic funding to educate each student.

That’s almost two per cent higher than current per-student funding.

It’s well below peak funding in 2011 of $11,807 per local student, adjusted for inflation.

Boards have been told to plan for all options: a normal school day with enhanced protocols, a modified school day with limited class sizes and altered timetables, and at-home learning if schools stay closed.

“We know that many parents are unsure whether they should register for school in the fall,” said Shesh Maharaj, treasurer of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board.

“We would like to provide assurance to them that our schools will be open, safe and welcoming for students.”

Maharaj said the pandemic has implications for transportation, cleaning, curriculum, technology and “how to work with students who cannot return in the fall due to healthrelated issues.”

Basic per-student funding for local boards will climb to just over $1 billion for 89,390 anticipated elementary and high school students.

Almost three-quarters will attend public schools with the rest attending the Catholic system.

Boards will get further millions for building projects and for other special ventures.

“Our staff are already getting to work to understand what this funding looks like for us,” said Matthew Gerard, treasurer of the Waterloo Region District School Board.

Ontario students have been educated online at home since March when classrooms closed to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Medical experts at SickKids Hospital in Toronto say they expect children can return safely to school in September.