Province investing $23M in Sudbury English public schools

Sudbury MPP Glenn Thibeault announced on Monday that the Ontario government is providing more than $23 million to build a new elementary school and renovate four others in Sudbury, Ont. 

The new school — which will accommodate students from Carl. A Nesbit, Ernie Checkeris and Westmount Public School — will hold 387 students between junior kindergarten and Grade 6.

Those schools are closing as a result of the Rainbow District School Board's accommodation review, in which trustees decided in February 2017 to close eight schools to help save $2.2 million annually.

• 'My kids are really disappointed': 8 schools to shut down in Sudbury area
• Rise in enrolment may spare some Sudbury schools from closure

Lasalle Secondary School will be revitalized to accommodate Grade 7 and 8 students from Churchill Public School's English program and Carl A. Nesbitt Public School's French immersion program.

An 'enhanced' school

Tara Savard, who has two children at both Chekeris and Nesbitt, said she's welcoming the announcement of a new school.

"The [kids] are going to be together, now," Savard said. "The whole school is going, It's not like they're separating the school into different schools. They're all going together. It's just going to make an enhanced school."

Although some parents have expressed their concerns about mixing Grade 7 and 8 students with high schoolers, Lasalle principal Maureen McNamara said she is a strong believer in the Grade 7-12 model.

"I think we have to acknowledge there is always going to be concerns," McNamara said. "This model has proven to be very successful in many other schools, in many other provinces."

McNamara said students from Churchill Public School successfully shared Lasalle's space during renovations four years ago.

"If you were to speak to the parents from Churchill their views were changed once the students were in here," she said. 

More good news for local schools

The province also said that Confederation Secondary School will be getting a gym addition.

Work will be done at Churchill Public School to accommodate incoming students from Cyril Varney Public School, which is also closing.

Renovations are scheduled to take place at Chelmsford Valley District Community School to help make room for students from Chelmsford Public School, and Grade 7 and 8 students from Larchwood Public School.

Work will also be done at Levack Public School to turn underutilized rooms into new child care spaces​.