It appears the former SCITS high school on Wellington St. will remain open longer than originally planned.
The provincial government has allocated capital funding of $10.3-million for renovations and upgrades to Great Lakes Secondary School at its future permanent site, the former St. Clair Secondary School. The Lambton Kent District School Board will provide $5.7-million of School Condition Improvement Funds for a total investment of $16-million to accommodate 528 students.
Board Director of Education Jim Costello says it's unlikely the new school on Murphy Rd. will be ready for occupancy by the fall of next year.
"The timelines will be determined by the architect and the general contractor, but I think it's reasonable to assume that they won't have it ready for September of 2017," says Costello. "We'll have to wait and see, and if we have to spent a bit more time at SCITS then we're happy to do that. I think it's worth the wait and, in the best interest of our students, we'll wait and hear what the architect and general contractor have to say."
Costello says the new designs will include construction of an auditorium, a First Nations community room and accessibility improvements.
The education ministry also has earmarked $3.7-million for new pupil spaces, a daycare and gymnasium at the consolidated Wyoming Public School.
The board is providing an additional $2-million for a total of $5.7-million.
- With files from Stephanie Chaves