The board unanimously decided to use eco-friendly technologies and materials in new school construction and renovation work in order to spread environmental awareness. The TCDSB capital plan has announced school constructions including 19 classroom additions and six new schools, including two in North York.
The projects will be funded by various Ministry of Education initiatives such as Enrolment Pressures grants, which apply to schools which serve more students than their ministry-mandated capacity allows, for more than two years.
Angelo Sangiorgio, associate director of planning and facilities for the TCDSB, told Inside Toronto that after two years, school boards are eligible for per-student funding, for each student above capacity to build more classrooms. .
Schools that have reached the end of their useful life will get Prohibitive to Repair (PTR) funds. The new school buildings are expected to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.
The green concept will be incorporated in heat, hydro and ventilation. With the $134 million in new construction, 130 portable facilities will be eliminated. The new school projects are expected to be completed by September 2011.
