Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is pleased to announce Ministry of Education support for a substantial portion of the costs to implement decisions from recent accommodation reviews. The announcement pledges nearly $40 million in capital funding for HWDSB schools.
HWDSB students will benefit from investment in the following capital projects:
- A new $31.8 million secondary school at a centrally-located site in the lower city and close Delta, Parkview and Sir John A. Macdonald.
- Over $3.5 million in upgrades to G.R. Allan Elementary School, which will welcome students after the closure of Prince Philip elementary.
- A $5.4 million addition to Saltfleet District High School.
The Ministry will also support the purchase of land to build a new secondary school on the southeast Mountain to replace Barton, Hill Park and Mountain secondary schools.
“We are excited about what this represents: support to help us create the most engaging 21st-century learning spaces for our students,” Board Chair Tim Simmons said. “This is about creating schools and programs that prepare our students for a future we can barely imagine.”
In the days ahead, Trustees will need to discuss ways to use the Board’s own funding sources to pay for remaining aspects of the accommodation review decisions. In particular, this will involve discussion of how the sale of surplus property can fund the cost to build a new secondary school on the south Mountain and the cost to build or renovate secondary learning spaces in Dundas.
“This funding announcement supports our Program Strategy that aims to make each one of our secondary schools great schools with expanded opportunities and choices,” Director of Education Dr. John Malloy said. “Students need great facilities and engaging programs so they can achieve their goals. This announcement moves us closer to that reality.”
In January 2011, HWDSB began one of the largest reviews of secondary student accommodation in Ontario history. The Board faced the prospect of having 6,523 surplus secondary pupil places by 2020 – empty seats for which the Board receives no funding, despite having to operate the same underutilized schools.Have a great story? Submit it here.
