On June 12, Ottawa-Orléans MPP Phil McNeely announced that the provincial government is funding $5.5 million for improvements at St. Matthew Catholic High School in Orléans and Lester B. Pearson Catholic School in Beacon Hill.

The money will be used to provide a more student friendly environment, while making the schools more energy efficient.

The money is part of a bigger announcement made in April, where the province revealed a $550 million investment for schools in Ontario.

Projects the money will be directed to include, expanding on existing school facilities and reconfiguring school spaces to reduce energy costs.

"By investing in better schools for students, we're helping them succeed and reach their full potential," said Minister of Education Kathleen Wynne.

Stephen Blais, Ottawa Catholic School Board Trustee for Orléans-Cumberland, confirmed that the money will be used to address the portable concerns at the east end schools, a concern for local parents for many years.

While no timetable has been confirmed when the projects could begin at Lester B. and St. Matt's, money funded for these projects need to be completed by September of 2011, added Blais.

"This is a very positive announcement," said Blais. "Right now, it's a matter of sitting down with the board and discussing. In the very near future, we will have a better understanding of what is going to be done."

The parents council of St. Matt's and Lester B. have been fighting, for many years, to have the portables replaced at the schools.

It's been an ongoing battle for 11 years at St. Matt's with different parents councils over the years urging the provincial government for funding to have the portables replaced.

Mike Buzetti, a representative of St. Matt's parents council, is thrilled with the recent announcement.

"We have been going at this for years," he said. "And we as a council did a fantastic job. We had a lot of support. It's absolutely fantastic."