Rainbow drops an extra $300K on six high schools

Six Rainbow District School Board secondary schools will be sharing a total of $300,000 in additional supports.

The investment was made by the board as part of a promise to offer additional supports to its community-based secondary schools following a review last year of the board's magnet secondary school programs.

Some parents complained that these magnet programs were attracting students away from community-based schools.

It was approved at the regular meeting of the board March 22.

The funds will be used to “transform traditional classrooms into 21-century learning environments.”

Confederation Secondary School, Chelmsford Valley District Composite School, Espanola High School, Lasalle Secondary School, Lively District Secondary School and Manitoulin Secondary School will receive $50,000 each in the current school year.

Each school has developed an implementation plan that responds to their respective school community.

“21st century classrooms engage students in learning activities that build 21st century skills,” said Norm Blaseg, the director of education. “Picture classrooms with green screens, whiteboards, robotics, smart TVs, laptops, iPads, and 3D printers where students are challenged to imagine and create.”