Letter to families re: Tapleytown funding announcement

Letter – Tapleytown capital submission approval

December 6, 2021

Dear Tapleytown families,

At Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB), we consider school renewal a strategic priority because the quality of our learning environments supports student learning and well-being.

Each year, school boards can submit up to 10 of their most urgent capital projects for which they seek Ministry of Education approval to complete. The ministry assesses proposed projects and announces funding if approved.

Successful capital project submissions have brought HWDSB about $220 million since 2012, allowing us to build two new secondary schools, nine new elementary schools and several significant additions and/or renovations at 12 other schools.

In spring 2021, one project we proposed was a new elementary school in Upper Stoney Creek that would welcome students in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8. HWDSB owns a site for this new school, at the intersection of Green Mountain Road West and First Road West.

This new school would be a replacement school for Tapleytown, opened in 1881, which is only rated for a capacity of 291 students and is estimated to need $1.53 million in repairs. A replacement school is not a school closure and does not require a Pupil Accommodation Review. Student enrolment in the Tapleytown catchment area is projected to significantly outgrow the school’s capacity.

This week, MPP Donna Skelly announced $16.7 million for a Tapleytown replacement school with 650 pupil places and a three-room child care space. We are so pleased to be able to improve the learning environment for Tapleytown students and address accommodation pressures in the area.

Board Chair Dawn Danko issued the following statement in response to the news:

“This is welcome news for students and families living in the Nash community, located in Upper Stoney Creek. Staff at HWDSB look forward to initiating the construction project and offering space that will benefit new generations of learners. We thank the Ontario Government for their investment in a new modern facility that will replace Tapleytown Elementary School and provide a new child care centre for early years programming.”

In terms of timing, it is important to remember that building a new school involves many steps, each of which takes time. These include:

1. Identification and purchase of property (if necessary)
2. Funding from Ministry
3. Design and budget for construction
4. Approval to Proceed from the Ministry
5. Site plan approval from City
6. Tendering process for General Contractor
7. Approval to Proceed from Ministry (if bid exceeds approved budget)
8. Construction

We will update the community as details are confirmed, but are working toward a January 2025 opening date, at the earliest.

As we prepare for these exciting next steps, we want to welcome the Tapleytown community to a virtual engagement session about the new school. Everyone is welcome to attend this update on the project and plans for the future.

Tapleytown Engagement Session (Virtual)

Wednesday, January 26, 2022
7 to 8 p.m.
Microsoft Teams Meeting. Link to join: hwdsb.info/tapleytownsession

Contact for questions: [email protected], 905.527.5092 ext. x 2361

Sincerely,

Estella Jones
Superintendent of Student Achievement (Family of Schools 1)