The Kamloops Thompson School District will be getting just over $2.6 million this month, part of new federal funding meant to expand health and safety measures ahead of the upcoming school year.

Secretary Treasurer Kelvin Stretch tells NL News it is too soon to say how the district will spend that money.

“There could be some funding spent on salaries, to installing plexiglass or barriers, or increased hand hygiene,” he said. “There’s even some talk about improving air systems in school, possibly accommodating new schedules to reduce the number of students on buses.”

The federal government announced B.C. would be getting $242 million of the $2 billion it announced last week. Education Minster Rob Fleming yesterday said it would be up to the school districts to spend the money how they see fit.

Stretch says there will be some easy decisions, but he notes coming up with a well thought out plan will take some time.

“The district will sit down and we will look at the areas that we are seeing pressure,” he added. “The things that we believe we need to spend some money on in order to keep children and the staff safe. We will put together a plan and we will try to implement the plan between now and initially December but ultimately by the end of June next year.”

Of the $242 million which is being split into two payments, roughly $202 will go to public schools, $15.8 million will go to independent schools, and $24.2 million will be put into a reserve for issues related to COVID-19 as they arise.

Stretch says SD73 is expecting to see a similar $2.6 million amount in January.

“I think the district would look at the entire grant over the course of the year and determine the best use of the funding over the entire school year between now and June 30,” added Stretch. “That way we don’t eliminate a project because we don’t have sufficient funding in the fall.”

Students are expected back in class in less than a week, on September 10.