Summer construction on Niagara schools underway
Niagara’s English-speaking school boards will spend a combined $32 million on 124 facilities renovation projects this summer.
Niagara Catholic District School Board is spending $19.5 million on 85 projects such as window and roof replacements; interior renovations to lockers, libraries and washrooms; mechanical and electrical upgrades; improvements to parking lots and playgrounds; as well as upgrades to exterior doors and other parts of buildings.
All of this work is paid for with Ontario Ministry of Education funding designated for school renovations, says the board.
The largest project for Niagara Catholic will be $800,000 worth of upgrades to the music room at Notre Dame College School in Welland.
Improvements to the parking lot at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Elementary School in St. Catharines has a price tag of $700,000. Renovations to eight classrooms and ventilation upgrades at Our Lady of Victory Elementary in Fort Erie will cost $550,000.
Two roof replacements at Niagara Catholic facilities — one for $550,000 at Holy Cross Secondary in St. Catharines, and another one with a price of $500,000 at St. Ann Catholic Elementary School in St. Catharines, are part of the summer plans.
A $350,000 facelift to the Catholic board’s education centre on Rice Road in Welland is being paid for by provincial funding meant for maintenance and repairs to administrative facilities, separate from the 85 projects at schools, says the board.
Last year, Niagara Catholic spent $16.7 million on summer capital projects.
The board says the health and safety of all Niagara Catholic students, staff and visitors to its schools and sites continues to be a priority.
“As part of its annual, cyclical review of all board sites, facilities services prioritizes renovation projects each year, based on the needs and funding available, and ensures these projects are completed on time and within budget,” Niagara Catholic said in a statement.
There are 39 projects for District School Board of Niagara that are expected to be complete by the end of August, with a total price tag of $12.5 million, much less than the $21.5 million that was spent last year — a large portion in 2018 going to accessibility upgrades at several elementary schools and mechanical and electrical work at three secondary schools.
An addition to Richmond Street Public School in Thorold is the single biggest ticket item in DSBN’s summer capital spending, coming in at $2.25 million, paid for by the provincial government, said DSBN communications officer Brett Sweeney.
Roofing projects will account for $2.25 million, and science lab upgrades at A.N. Myer Secondary School in Niagara Falls will cost $800,000.
Nine DSBN facilities will receive a new roof this summer — Alternative Pathways in St. Catharines, DSBN Academy in St. Catharines, Gracefield Public School in St. Catharines, Grimsby Secondary School, Princess Elizabeth Public School in Welland, Quaker Road Public School in Welland, Senator Gibson Public School in Beamsville and Smith Public School in Grimsby.
New sports fields at E.L. Crossley Secondary School in Fonthill, Port Colborne High School and Westlane Secondary School in Niagara Falls are also part of the work taking place.
“Our focus is to ensure students return to schools that are safe, welcoming, and well-prepared to support their learning. Where possible, doing renovation work during the summer allows us to minimize disruption to student learning,” he said.