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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, July 1, 2016 | 16 Halton MPP announces $24M for school renewal by Julie Slack Metroland West Media The halls were quiet at Milton District Secondary School (MDHS) on Tuesday (June 29) morning as students are off on summer break, but clapping and cheering quickly filled the silence. Halton MPP Indira Naidoo-Harris was at the school to officially announce the provincial government will invest $24 million in Halton over the next two years to repair and renew local schools. Naidoo-Harris also presented MDHS principal Kevin Caughlin with a certificate recognizing his retirement this year. The funds Naidoo-Harris announced will ensure Halton schools are safe and modern places for students to learn. Funds will enable repairs The funding will enable local school boards to repair roofs, update HVAC units and modernize electrical and plumbing systems. It will also significantly improve the appearance of Halton schools by fixing and upgrading flooring, walls, ceilings, playing fields and more. The repairs are expected to have a positive impact on students' ability to learn and their well-being. Halton MPP Indira Naidoo-Harris The Province is investing an additional $19 million for a total of $53 million to the Halton District School Board (HDSB) and an additional $5 million for a total of $18 million to the Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB). "This is an investment in youth and they are the future of Ontario," said NaidooHarris, while HDSB trustees clapped and cheered. We're flowing this additional money right away so that over the summer, projects that need immediate repairs and upgrades, get that. This extra funding is great news for students, staff and parents in Halton. The investment will renew and repair local schools and create better schools for better learning. This is an important step towards local student achievement and well-being and is a boost for our local economy. Indira Naidoo-Harris Halton MPP province, which builds on existing funding that has been allocated for repairs and renewals over the next two school years, for a total of $2.7 billion. A boost for the local economy The school repairs and renewal in Halton is part of the largest investment in public infrastructure in the province's history -- close to $160 billion over 12 years. The move supports 110,000 jobs every year across the province, with projects such as roads, bridges, transit systems, schools and hospitals. "This extra funding is great news for students, staff and parents in Halton," Naidoo-Harris added. "The investment will renew and repair local schools and create better schools for better learning. This is an important step towards local student achievement and wellbeing, and is a boost for our local economy," said the MPP . In a press release, Mitzie Hunter, Minister of Education, said the province believes in better buildings for better learning. "Investing in our schools is one of the most important infrastructure investments we can make for nearly two million students in Ontario," said Hunter. "Making sure schools across the province are in a state of good repair is an essential part of supporting student achievement." Work can be done this summer Naidoo-Harris said the money is coming now so that school boards can make repairs over the summer months. "We're flowing this additional money right away so that over the summer, projects that need immediate repairs and upgrades, get that," she added. The funds are part of an extra $1.1 billion investment in school infrastructure across the COUNT THE FLAGS CONTEST! THE TORONTO BLUE JAYS on July 29th! Count ALL the ags in this edition of that look like the one pictured at right, and submit your answer. Name:_________________________________________________________________ Address:_______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ City:__________________________________________________________________ Phone: ________________________________________________________________ Number of ags, including the one in this ad: _________________________________ Or email: jjacobs@oakvillebeaver.com One lucky reader will win two tickets to see COUNT THE FLAGS CONTEST Drop off completed entries Metroland Media to: 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington L7L 5Z1 *Entries must be received by 5pm on Friday, July 15, 2016. Odds of winning depend on the number of correct entries received. Winner will be chosen by random draw from all correct entries received. Prize must be accepted as awarded. Winner must agree to have his/her photograph taken for possible publication in future editions of Oakville Beaver. Employees and immediate family members of employees of Metroland Media are not eligible.