STAR Catholic welcomes federal funding to aid with COVID-19 costs
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STAR Catholic School Division will receive $1,571,500 in federal funding to help alleviate some of the financial impacts related to COVID-19 and school re-entry.
Earlier this month, the Government of Canada announced that $2 billion in funding would be made available to provinces to support a safe return to school. Alberta was allocated $250 million in funding, which was distributed to school divisions across the province based on student population.
The $1,571,500 in federal funding distributed to STAR Catholic comes as the Division faces significant struggles associated with the costs of resuming both in-person and online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adhering to federal conditions of use of the funding, STAR Catholic will allocate funds towards additional staffing and substitute teachers, remote learning supports, transportation costs, personal protective equipment, and sanitation supplies. Specific numbers allocated to these areas include:
- Personal protective equipment —$12,040
- Cleaning and sanitation supplies — $254,752
- Custodial, EA, in-person, and substitute staff — $775,908
- Staffing and materials for online learning — $471,800
- Transportation contractor surcharges — $57,000
“We welcome this assistance from the federal government and appreciate that the province recognized the diverse needs of school jurisdictions and distributed dollars directly to divisions to make the best use of the funding,” says Board Chair Michelle Lamer.
“Our Division has worked diligently to prepare for school re-entry and this financial assistance will be a great help with the associated costs. The funding will help ensure that our school communities remain the safe, successful, and positive spaces that our families expect and deserve.”