The Sea to Sky School District is receiving roughly $2.3 million in funds as part of a back-to-school COVID-19 cash injection.
In mid-September, the provincial government kicked in almost $400,000 for reusable masks, hand hygiene, cleaning supplies, technology and increased cleaning.
The federal government's contribution is about $1.9 million that will be paid out in two instalments. The first arrives at the end of September and the next arrives in January. Each instalment will be about $947,000.
That money can go toward learning resources and support, health and safety, transportation, technology and other areas, as identified by the government.
Secretary-treasurer Mohammed Azim said that about $600,000 will go toward learning resources and staff support.
This includes adding the equivalent of 4.6 full-time teaching staff and assistants and additional education resources.
About $262,000 will go to health and safety measures, such as additional personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies.
Regarding transportation, about $146,000 will go to recruiting new drivers, a new bus attendance system and clerical hours for the COVID-19 transportation safety plan, among other things.
The school district is also eyeing a new school bus when the second instalment of federal funding arrives in January.
This article was originally published by the Squamish Chief.
