London-area school boards ask Queen's Park for 10 new schools amid enrolment pressures

London's public and Catholic school boards are asking Ontario's Ministry of Education for a total of 10 new schools, plus an addition to an existing school, as they continue to manage the strain of increasing student enrolment.

The London District Catholic School Board is asking for roughly $300 million in capital funding for four new elementary and two new high schools. 

Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB), the region's largest board, is seeking more than $130 million to fund four new elementary schools, and a 207 pupil addition to West Nissouri Public School in Thorndale. 

"We're really experiencing a tremendous amount of enrolment increases. In the past four years alone, we've had an increase of about 29 per cent," said Debbie Jordan, executive superintendent at the Catholic board, adding that enrolment at four schools has been capped. 

"The growth rate is incredible, so we really do require some new infrastructure to accommodate the pupils."

A spokesperson for the board said 130 portables have been added in the past three years to respond to the growth, bringing the total number of portables at LDCSB schools to more than 200. 50 were added last year alone, the board said.

'The growth is there' says Thames Valley board

The province outlines key categories that must be met by school boards in their submissions for capital priorities grants. These include current and projected enrolments that will continue to exceed capacity, and repair needs higher than the cost of building an appropriately-sized new facility.

Both local school boards say they're hopeful to get some funding for their submissions because they believe their business cases are strong and meet provincial requirements. 

"The growth is there. We have students in different holding zones throughout the board, and we believe that we're presenting our strongest business case submissions," said Carlos Henriquez, manager of capital projects at the Thames Valley District School Board.

Henriquez said the board is "well-positioned to manage growth" as it's currently in construction for three new schools in northwest and southwest London and Woodstock, scheduled to open in the 2025-26 school year. Four other schools are in design for 2026-2027.

Next on the public school board's priority list is an ask for a new high school in north London, which they will submit early next year, Henriquez said. 

The Catholic school board has "aggressively hired" more than 4,500 staff including more than 400 teachers in recent years to keep up with growth needs, said Jordan. 

The deadline for both school boards to submit their requests is Sept. 16, and the Ministry will announce its decision by early spring next year. 

Requested school projects: