French Immersion programming is breathing new life into the former St. Gregory Catholic Elementary School site in Tecumseh.
At a special meeting Monday night, the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board approved French Immersion at two new sites for the start of the next school year, including the former St. Gregory site which was closed last spring.
Tecumseh-area trustee Susan Tope stands by the decision to close the school, noting the French option wasn't ignored pointing to the work by trustees on the French Immersion Advisory Committee
"They had been looking at French Immersion for over four years, so this isn't something that's just been brought in in the last year. We've had a committee together. It's been going on for years," says Tope. "It's a very exciting time for Tecumseh and St. Clair Beach to have an opportunity for the kids there to have French Immersion in their home community."
Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara along with fellow members of council attended the meeting with McNamara saying he "applauded" the recommendation from Director of Education Paul Picard and trustees for moving forward with the process.
The board approved phased-in single-track French Immersion at the former St. Gregory site and dual track French Immersion at St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School in River Canard, allowing for children to stay in English programming, both beginning in September. The board expects the first year of implementation to be a neutral net cost with the $1.2-million total being offset by new provincial dollars and other savings and reductions.