Winnipeg school backtracks on asking parents to fundraise for COVID-19 resources

A Winnipeg school isno longer asking parents to raise money so their children's school will besafer during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont wastaken aback when he received a mid-October letterfrom his children's school, Earl Grey,whichsaid proceeds from its annualfundraiser would buy40 student shields, an extra hand-washing station and technology to support remote learning.

The price tag for the school's "wish list" was pegged at $7,100.

"We are having a fund raiser to raise money for some very important items that are needed not just for now but for the future," the letter said.

However, Earl Grey familieswere told in another letter lastFriday thatthe school found money for these items within its budget one day after Lamont denouncedthe province on social media for a school having to fundraise.

He added the call for fundraisingwasegregious when $85.4 million from the federal government specifically to help schools cope with the pandemic hasn't been spent by the province.

"It's unbelievable that meand other parents [were]supposed to sell chocolate bars to raise money for COVID protection, when the premier can't say what he's doing with $85 million he got from the federal government."

The Winnipeg School Division said in a statement Monday that the "fundraising issue" at Earl Grey "appears to be a misunderstanding" and was rectified. The updated letter to parents says the fundraiser will now support new technology in classrooms.

Two months into a school year alteredby the pandemic, the Manitoba government hasn't spent nearly as much money on pandemic preparations as critics would like.

Education Minister Kelvin Goertzensaid in question period on Monday that of the $100 million devoted to schools,$15.5 millionhad been spent by school divisions and independent schools forenhanced cleaning, transportation, technology and staffing, as of Sept. 30.

At thetime, $1.5 million was also spent on masks and shieldsthat the province provided toschools, a government spokesperson added.

'Wasn't all supposed to be spent in September'

The province hassaid it wouldn't tap into the federal allotmentuntil it exhausted the existing $100 million, half of which is money the school divisions were asked to save last spring when schooling went remote.

Goertzensaid the province would spend all the money in due time.

"It wasn't supposed to all be spent in September," he told reporters after question period.

"We've saidto school divisions, 'Bring forward the needs that you have.' Of course, they had some of their own savings as well and expend those moneys as you go. The report that I had that about $15.5 million was spent in September is in keeping about what we would have expected," Goertzen said.

Lamont said the funding commitment isn't enough when somestaff in the education system are struggling to keep up.

"Teachers are at theirbreaking point, teachers and staff, because thegovernment has offered them nothing and actually not only offered them nothing, has failed to make people safe, failed to actually be clear about the investments," he said.

The issue of school funding was raised in question period last week by theNDP. The party has asked the government to hire more teachers as students arespread out between in-person classrooms and their homes.

NDP MLA Matt Wiebesaid Monday that teachers are stressed out, parents are worried and thegovernment is morepreoccupied with its bottom line than helping the school system.

"There's simply no relief from this government," Wiebe said.