London-area school boards get more than $260M to build 6 new schools

Six new schools will be built in the London area as the public and Catholic school boards secured nearly $267 million in funding from Ontario's Ministry of Education. 

The London District Catholic School Board (LDSCB) got $173 million to build three schools, including a new $100-million high school in north London, an elementary school in southwest London and another high school in St. Thomas.

The Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) has received $93.4 million to build three elementary schools in southwest London, north London and Thamesford. 

All public elementary schools and the north London Catholic high school will also have 88-space licensed child care centres. A funding breakdown of each school board and its expected student population can be found at the bottom of this story. 

With record-high enrolment, the London-area Catholic school board is the fastest growing in Ontario, and officials are "thrilled" with the funding that will help accommodate more students, LDCSB's director of education, Vince Romeo, said in a news release. 

"We continue to be focused on the needs of our students, and it shows. We are breaking student enrollment figures each year, and we continue to welcome new employees to our system each and every day," said Romeo.

LDSCB added more than 1,500 students this year for a total of 27,500, along with hiring more than 1,500 employees in recent years, officials said. 

Last fall, both school boards asked the province for 10 new schools and an addition to an existing school as they were managing the strain of an increasing student population.

Construction projects underway

At the time, the Catholic board asked for about $300 million in capital funding for four new elementary and two new high schools. The Thames Valley board sought more than $130 million to fund four new elementary schools and a 207 pupil addition to West Nissouri Public School in Thorndale. 

The Catholic board opened St. Gabriel Elementary School in northwest London this month, with elementary schools in northeast London and the Komoka-Kilworth area in the planning stages and a new high school under construction. LDCSB also added 130 new portables over the last three school years, including 50 for the 2024-2025 school year. 

This latest funding from the province is part of a larger $1.3 billion investment that will create more than 25,000 student spaces and more than 1,600 new licensed daycares at 23 schools across Ontario. 

TVDSB now has 10 school construction projects underway that will help meet the needs of the region's growing communities, officials said in a news release on Monday. 

"This investment means families can access schools closer to home, in the communities where they live," said Bill Tucker, TVDSB's interim director of education. "This is about more than new buildings, it's about ensuring our students and families feel supported and connected as they grow and thrive in these neighbourhoods." 

How much will each new school cost?

Thames Valley District School Board:

• Southwest London elementary school: $43.6 million for 934 students. 
• Thamesford elementary school: $23.5 million for 479 students from junior kindergarten to Grade 4. 
• North Central London elementary school: $26.3 million to accommodate 514 students. 

London District Catholic School Board: 

• North London Secondary School: $100.5 million for 1,999 students. 
• Southwest London Elementary School: $31 million for 655 students. 
• St. Thomas Secondary School: $41.6 million for 826 students.