Prince George is home to one of 25 schools in B.C. that successfully requested money for carbon neutral upgrades.
The $320,227 from the Ministry of Education will buy a boiler for Ecole Lac des Bois Elementary.
Sharel Warrington said the cash is a big help for an already-strapped budget.
"Without that $320,000 from the ministry to support our boilers, we would have to still replace those boilers and that would come out of our regular operating funds."
At previous board meetings, the district reported it is likely facing a $1-million deficit.
School District 57 made two other requests for boiler replacement, but they were not approved. It asked for $158,000 for Nusdeh Yoh Aboriginal Choice School and around $121,000 for the boiler at the central administration office.
Warrington said these will likely have to be replaced on the district's dime.
"We are working very hard to reduce our carbon footprint and be energy efficient," she said. "Of course we want the most efficient heating systems because that saves us in our heating and energy costs."
Every year, the district requests funding for replacements at several schools and Warrington said it has received funding from this program in the past.
"We are doing a lot of boiler replacements because our schools are old and those heating units need to be upgraded."
The ministry money comes out of the Carbon Neutral Capital Program, which handed out $5-million this year to 25 schools for projects that also cover lighting upgrades, solar panels and electric vehicles.
"Carbon-neutral policies like this are so important to improving air quality in our community," said Mike Morris, Prince George-Mackenzie MLA, in a release.
"These forms of innovation in climate action are exactly what's needed. Replacing antiquated technology like boilers is a great way for our schools to be proactive in combating climate change."
The ministry said since the program's launch in 2012, it has helped school districts save $1.2 million each year in operational expenses. It has also led to the reduction of 4,000 tonnes in carbon dioxide emissions.
