The St. Clair Catholic District School Board is reporting the new Monsignor Uyen Catholic School on Baldoon Road in Chatham is on schedule and construction should be completed by July 30, 2021.
The Board said the $5 million school at the old Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School site is 82 per cent finished and only some minor work is left to do such as roof work, asphalt replacement, installing lockers, and putting up road signs.
"We are very pleased with the pace of construction on this project," said Director of Education Deb Crawford. "We look forward to beginning to transition our staff into the building over the summer and will be ready to welcome students in September. "This is an exciting time for our French Immersion students in Chatham, as we look forward to September."
Board officials said office furniture will be ordered and installed in late May, Learning Commons furniture will arrive in late June, and classroom furniture will be moved from the current Monsignor Uyen School to the Baldoon Road site at the end of June.
Meantime, the Board said it has selected the architect to design the new South Chatham elementary school. Associate Director and Treasurer Amy Janssens announced on Tuesday that the Ventin Group Architects has been selected to lead the design of the new school at Keil Drive and Tweedsmuir Avenue.
"Through the Board’s RFP (request for proposals) process, the Ventin Group Architects emerged as the successful proponent," said Janssens. "The Ventin Group will assist the Board to develop a sustainable new school, which will include environmental and energy efficiency principles as part of the design."
Janssens said the Ventin Group proposal outlined its approach to the design process, including the ability to develop consensus and to successfully meet program requirements, schedule deadlines and budget restraints.
Sessions will now be scheduled with students, parents, staff, trustees and senior administration to get feedback on the schematic design.
The school will serve the Georges P. Vanier, St. Ursula and the former St. Joseph Catholic school communities and should be open in a couple of years.