Province Approves Child Care Centre Addition to Brighton Public School
As part of Ontario’s ongoing efforts to build and improve local schools, the province has given Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board approval to tender a child care centre addition to Brighton Public School.
The $1.2 million investment will add a new, quality learning environment for the children of Brighton. This project is part of the province’s capital investment program to build more child care spaces for Ontario’s families. This project has also received support from Northumberland County which is contributing $350,000 towards the addition of a kitchen.
“Child care is critically important to working parents, and it will be key to driving Ontario’s economic recovery,” said MPP David Piccini. “The funding for this child care centre addition to Brighton Public School is great news for our community. This investment will provide choice and flexibility for families and new opportunities for the children of Brighton.”
In addition, to support parents with the cost of child care and help them re-enter the workforce, Ontario is providing a 20 per cent enhancement of the Childcare Access and Relief from Expenses (CARE) tax credit for 2021. This will increase support from $1,250 to $1,500 per family, on average, providing about $75 million in additional support for the 2021 child care expenses of over 300,000 families.
The Ontario government is also providing more than $1.6 billion in targeted COVID-19 resources for the upcoming school year. This funding is for a range of supports including mental health, reading, and math supports for Ontario students.
Ontario’s investment in new and updated schools will create the foundation for a modern learning environment for hundreds of students across the province.
Highlights of the child care centre addition include:
· 10 new licensed child care spaces.
· 1 new child care room.
“Providing wrap-around service for children and families, from preschool to graduation is a priority for our school board. Having child and family centre programs in our schools is a critical component of that vision” says Diane Lloyd, Chairperson of the Board, Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. “We extend our sincere thanks to MPP Piccini, and the provincial government, for these dedicated child care spaces that will be so valued by our students and
parents in the Brighton area.”
“With this addition, the child care centre at Brighton Public School will become a full-service centre, providing care for families with children from infancy through to school age,” states County Warden Bob Crate. “Northumberland County is pleased to support this important capital build by contributing funds for on-site kitchen facilities. The capacity to prepare and provide nutritious snacks and meals onsite will further enhance the quality child care supports available
to Brighton families.”
“Childcare services are vital to Brighton’s economy and to our local economic recovery,” said Mayor Brian Ostrander. “We are grateful for the support of the Government of Ontario and the County of Northumberland for helping to provide these services right here in Brighton.”
Brighton Public School is located at 24 Elizabeth Street in Brighton.
QUICK FACTS
· The Ontario Government is working with school board partners to invest in capital projects that advance safe and accessible learning opportunities for students.
· To create new opportunities for Ontario’s families, the government is investing up to $1 billion to create up to 30,000 new child care spaces in schools over five years.
· Over the next ten years, the Ontario government is investing $14 billion in capital grants, including allocating $550 million in 2020-21 for new schools, additions and major renovations.
· This massive investment will build new schools and help existing schools after a decade of closures and maintenance backlog.
· Ontario has announced additional funding of $25 million to further improve ventilation in schools as students return for in-person learning this fall. This additional funding brings the net new investments in school ventilation to $600 million.
· The province is also providing school boards with a historic $1.4 billion in funding to renew and maintain existing schools.
· This funding could be used to replace aging heating or air conditioning systems, repair roofs and windows, and install important accessibility features like elevators and ramps
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
