Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen has announced how his government will be distributing the Safe Schools funding across the province.

“Our government is providing Manitoba schools with the financial resources they need to support their students and staff,” says Goertzen. “Meeting the recommended health provisions requires financial support and we are ensuring that support is available to schools.”

Last month, Goertzen announced $100 million that would be distributed between divisions on a per-pupil basis to buttress their bank accounts during the ongoing financial stress of COVID-19. Today, he elaborated on just what dollar value will be granted to each individual entity.

This total of $100 million consists of $52 million in one-time COVID-19 funding as well as the $48 million in preparedness savings that were collectively set aside by schools during the period of at-home learning last spring.

Of that $52 million, Goertzen says, $12 million of this will cover masks and other personal protective equipment, $32 million will allow school divisions to more generally access funds up to their per-pupil maximum, and $8 million to address any serious and urgent health and safety measures over and above the school division allocation.

This money will also be used to support increased staffing, cleaning, and transportation needs, as well as any others that may arise.

“We are continuing with our plan to focus this funding on the public health measures needed to keep students and staff as safe as possible while learning,” stresses Goertzen who notes the federal government has also committed $85.4 million towards these same goals.