The St. Clair Catholic School Board is ready for this year, it’s the 2019-20 school year that is raising some concerns.
An update on the status of the construction of two new Catholic elementary schools in Chatham, planned to be open in September 2019, has indicated there could be delays.
Noting there are possible delays, associate director Amy Janssens said the board is still working closely with the Ministry of Education “to try to meet some of the challenges that we’re up against.”
“With due respect to the tendering process” she said further details can’t be divulged at this point.
Citing the fact the board met with the ministry on Thursday, Janssens said, “things are still progressing.”
However, she said, “It would be hard for us to meet the timelines that we’ve set right now, even as of today.”
She added it takes a good amount of time to construct a new school the size that is being planned.
Janssens said they should know better in a few weeks where things are at.
Ministry approval was received in June 2017 for $26.7 million in provincial funding to build the two new elementary schools – one in north and south ends of Chatham – to consolidate six schools at two sites to deal with the impacts of declining enrolment and aging schools.
The Catholic board plans to construct two similar schools that will each have a capacity for more than 560 students. The north school will be located on an eight-acre site that will provide plenty of room.
However, the board continues to work with community partners to secure a location to build a new school in south Chatham.
“The challenges we have encountered mean the timelines for completion of these projects cannot be stated with certainty,” said Catholic board director of education Deb Crawford in a written release. “But good things are worth waiting for and we know that with the cooperation and support of our many partners, we will achieve our common goals.”
Janssens said over the past school year, the board’s facilities team completed 50 capital projects, adding the total cost is expected to be tallied by mid-September.
“We’re still working hard on lots of other schools,” she said.
Janssens said work was done on a full-day kindergarten classroom and washroom at Holy Names elementary school in Wallaceburg, along with major roof work at Ursuline College Chatham.
She said exterior work will continue for another four to six weeks at Our Lady of Fatima school in Chatham, adding all the interior work has been completed.
As the first day of school arrives, Janssens said, “All of the schools are clean and ready for occupancy on Tuesday.”
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