School districts will focus COVID-19 dollars

British Columbia's school districts will decide where best to devote more than $242 million in federal funding to reopen schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Education Minister Rob Fleming says school districts have different needs as they prepare to welcome back hundreds of thousands of students next week.

Fleming says he's heard about calls for smaller class sizes and more teachers, concerns about physical distancing in classrooms and remote learning options, but every district is different and they will decide what is most needed.

The minister says the federal money will be disbursed to school districts on a per-pupil basis in two payments later this month and in January.

He says the initial amount is $101.1 million in September and the second amount set for January is $121.8 million.

B.C. Teachers' Federation president Teri Mooring says in a statement she welcomes Fleming's update, which highlights key priorities that include hiring additional teachers and staff.