Building for our Future - Planning and Plant

This past spring and summer, the Plant Department undertook many facility projects throughout the Board and over 60 minor projects were completed to improve our schools for learning and working. Many of these projects were funded under the Good Places to Learn and School Renewal grants from the Ministry of Education.

Some major projects were also completed, resulting in many improvements to learning facilities for students. Through the provincial government’s Best Start program(daycare), a total of four projects were completed. The following schools now offer the Best Start program right in their schools: St.Nicholas, Monsignor Clair, Prince of Peace, Sister Catherine Donnelly.

Key renovations and additions occurred at a number of our schools including the construction of a two-storey addition at Holy Trinity High School in Bradford West Gwillimbury. The school successfully opened most of the renovated facilities in September and other new areas were available for the students in January 2008.

A new elementary school is being planned for south Barrie, where growth continues to mean more learning space is needed to meet the needs of our Catholic students.Construction is underway with plans for completion in the fall of 2008.

Anew Catholic secondary school is also needed to respond to growth in the south end of Barrie. The design and program requirements will be developed and we hope to open our new school in September 2010. 

We were pleased to receive a Ministry of Education announcement on Prohibitive to Repair (PTR) funding which will allow a replacement school for the aging St. Paul’s facility in Alliston. Consultation with the school community on this project will continue to take place as this project moves ahead.

As St. Dominic Catholic Secondary School in Brace bridge continues to respond to the needs of its students, design concepts were being developed for a small addition to the school, which will provide significant enhancements to the hospitality program. Work on this initiative is expected to begin in the spring of 2008.