Unfinished school renovation leaves 350 children in limbo

With less than two weeks to go until classes start, some 350 Regent Park children have just learned they will not move into their newly renovated historic school until January because construction is not finished. The September reopening of the vaulted, 95-year-old Nelson Mandela Park Public School, on Shuter St. near Parliament St., has been abruptly postponed — in part because more time was needed to prepare soil, repair structures, get environmental clearance, deal with changes in energy suppliers and gain general access to the site in the midst of the massive Regent Park revitalization process. Instead, students from junior kindergarten through Grade 8 will attend nearby Regent Park/Duke of York Public School, which is slated to close once the Nelson Mandela makeover is done, said spokesperson Ryan Bird of the Toronto District School Board.

The $21.7-million remake, funded by Queen’s Park, keeps the historic façade of the building, which was built in1917 on the site of an original 1853 school building.

But the renovation completely converts the interior as part of a larger community hub that includes the school, daycare and adjoining community centre to be built by the City of Toronto.

The building will also offer other services and will partner with the Toronto Community Housing Corporation.

The original school, called Park Jr. and Sr. school, is the oldest in the city that still stands on its original site. It was renamed in 2001 at a ceremony attended by Nelson Mandela.

The school closed in 2010 for the renovation and students were moved to nearby schools.

A special information line has been set up for parents of Nelson Mandela Park students for updates on construction: 416-393-9999.