A new public school in Ancaster, Ont. that is currently in the worst state of repair across the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is among several school construction projects going forward thanks to provincial dollars.
Recently, Ancaster Dundas Flamborough Westdale Liberal MPP Ted McMeekin announced at C.H. Bray public school that the province will provide $9.65 million to rebuild the school and kick in another $1.1 million for daycare spaces. This is part of a 2018 province-wide investment to build 39 brand new schools and undertake 40 major renovations or additions that will include more than 2,700 licensed child care spaces.
“It’s (C.H. Bray) a tired, old, dilapidated school and the community needs a new one,” said Hamilton Ward 12 Councillor Lloyd Ferguson of the school that was built in 1953.
The new C.H. Bray will have room for 495 students, more than double the existing building’s 199-student capacity. There will also be almost an additional hectare of land thanks to a land swap between the HWDSB and the city.
“We (council) just approved a land swap to exchange a site in Carluke for an adjacent piece of property that was a bus turnaround to incorporate into the design of the new school,” said Ferguson.
Another investment in Ancaster schools as part of this recent cash injection is a $3.7-million addition to Ancaster Senior Elementary School, which is part of a plan to convert it to a junior kindergarten to Grade 8 school and close the adjacent Fessenden Elementary School.
According to HWDSB chair and Ward 5 Trustee Todd White, the addition to Ancaster Senior public school will be for new classroom spaces.
Another new elementary school is Beverly Central in Rockton that will be constructed on the property of the Beverly Community Centre.
“The school is part of a joint community project with the City of Hamilton. The school will be designed to accommodate 347 students from junior kindergarten to Grade 8 in an approximately 40,000-square-foot elementary school,” said White.
Part of the design of this new school requires the widening of Highway 8 to include a left turning lane into the school. These plans are now pending approval from the Ministry of Transportation and once approved, the next step is obtaining a site plan approval from the city for construction to begin in the spring.
Also pending site plan approval is a new elementary school in Greensville. It will serve students at Greensville, Spencer Valley and Grade 6 to 8 students living in the Millgrove catchment area.
“Demolition is generally complete in preparation for the new school and HWDSB is seeking approval from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change for the new sanitary stormwater systems needed for this school,” said White.
Mount Albion in Stoney Creek will receive $4.9 million for the addition of classroom spaces plus another $1.5 million for a new daycare space.
Work has already begun at C.H. Bray and, according to White, next steps for the other projects are currently issuing to architects a RFP process to select consultants for Ancaster Senior and Mount Albion.
“We will tender for contractors after we receive regulatory approvals (Ministry of Education and municipal) based on approved designs,” he said.
Not making the HWDSB wish list however, were funds for a new Rousseau Public School in Ancaster or a proposed community hub and new elementary school at the Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School site and the reconstruction of Sherwood high school.
During the transition phase of the approved projects, White says, “Plans could include holding schools or creating a clear separation of space in meeting the requirements of the Ministry of Labour.”
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