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A new north London high school and another in St. Thomas are among the top priorities for the booming local Catholic board as it submits a half-dozen new capital funding requests to Queen’s Park.
Officials have also approved a plan to request funding for four more schools as surging enrolment makes the London-based board the fastest-growing Catholic board in Ontario.
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“We’re about to embark on the biggest school construction boom in our history,” said Catholic school board chair Gabe Pizzuti.
The Ontario education ministry’s capital priorities program allows school boards to submit the projects they deem “the most urgent and pressing.” The board’s requests include:
- North London secondary school, 2,000 students
- St. Thomas secondary school, 826 students
- Southwest London elementary school, 655 pupils
- Southeast London elementary school, 655 pupils
- St. Thomas elementary school, 424 pupils
- Replacement for St. Patrick elementary school in Lucan, 424 pupils
In recent years, population growth in the London area has put unprecedented pressure on many schools, with some overflowing. The education ministry prioritizes projects by, among other things, enrolment pressures and physical conditions.
The booming Catholic board added 1,500 more students this year, bringing the total headcount to 27,500 across 43 elementary schools and nine high schools. Since 2022, the board has hired more than 1,400 new employees, including 450 teachers.
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Administration at the Thames Valley District school board says they’ve ranked its Top 5 capital priorities for provincial cash for urgently needed new schools or additions. Ben Puzanov, its manager of planning, said Thames Valley is “the fastest growing region in the province.”
The Thames Valley District school board’s top picks are:
- Southwest London elementary school
- Thamesford elementary school
- Ingersoll elementary school
- Addition to West Nissouri elementary school
- North-Central London elementary school
Funding announcements are expected in the spring of 2025. The deadline to apply for cash from Queen’s Park is Sept. 16.
NEW LONDON-AREA SCHOOLS OPENING SOON
Thames Valley schools opening in 2025-26 school year:
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