Montreal's school boards get millions for infrastructure
EMSB, LBPSB both say updating bathrooms are a priority
Quebec's education minister has announced an infrastructure investment of $367 million in Quebec's schools.
- VIDEO Quebec Budget 2016: $2B surplus, but little spending wiggle room
- EMSB teachers to resume extra-curricular activities after boycott
The money is being distributed to several school boards.
The English Montreal School Board will be receiving $9.1 million for 36 projects.
The Lester B. Pearson School Board will receive $7.2 million for 11 projects.
Michael Cohen, the spokesperson for the EMSB, said that despite the millions the school board will have to invest in repairing and updating its infrastructure, it could use more.
"Even though it sounds like a lot of money, in our board alone we have 70 buildings," Cohen said. "You could probably quadruple what they are giving us and it wouldn't be enough. We have to prioritize."
Suanne Stein Day, chair of the Lester B. Pearson School Board, said that preventing future problems was a focus for her board.
"We're very fortunate our buildings are in very good condition," Stein Day said. "So we go for places where we can get the most bang for our buck."
Stein Day said that the board will invest in windows, bathrooms and foundations to ensure mold does not become an issue in their schools.
In the coming months, the school boards will be submitting their proposals for next year's projects.