Three major projects have been highlighted in the St. Clair Catholic District School Board's new long-term capital plan, from 2024 to 2028.
The 58-page document was presented to the board of trustees during a recent meeting.
"We are strongly relieved to present a plan that has great data and guiding principles. We believe it leads to the best decisions possible using the limited resources we have, and that's both people and funds," said Associate Director for Corporate Services and Treasurer Amy Janssens. "We believe too that since 1998, having closed 22 schools and building five schools, along with many other renovations, we believe our plans work."
Janssens noted the capital plan is never truly finalized as many items are dependent on the Ministry of Education.
"Even though the plan is five years, we are always looking out past five years so I would say our work is never ending," she said. "In terms of the three major projects that we'd like to take on in the next five years, they're all dependent on whether the ministry would provide funding for those projects."
The projects include additions to St. Anne Catholic School in Blenheim and St. John Fisher in Forest and the replacement of Ursuline College Chatham (UCC).
While St. Anne and St. John Fisher are in good or average condition, enrollment projections are well above their current capacity.
St. John Fisher was initially constructed in 1960 and its last addition was in 2006. St. Anne was built in 1992 and the facility received an addition in 2009.
Based on 2020 assessments, five-year renewal costs are estimated at $2 million for St. John Fisher and $2.8 million for St. Anne; whereas replacement would have cost $8.3 million for St. John Fisher and nearly $11 million for St. Anne.
Applications for classroom additions were made for both schools during the 2023-2024 budget year but were unsuccessful.
The school board will also review portable accommodations for St. John Fisher and St. Anne.
Janssens said funding requests for St. John Fisher, St. Anne, and UCC were submitted last week and the hope is for the school board to hear back from the ministry by the spring of 2025.
"That would help us to get moving in the summertime on any projects," she said. "So if we're lucky enough to get some funds from them, we would be ecstatic."
Janssens said moving forward, the capital planning team will meet bi-monthly and will continue to forward plans to the ministry.
Separate from the capital plan, the board of trustees also recently received a traffic planning update for The Rapids Parkway in Sarnia.
The report said the City of Sarnia intends to complete a traffic study in the area once the Ministry of Transportation finishes the Exmouth Street expansion project beneath the Highway 402 overpass. The project is expected to be completed in 2025.
"We are constantly in connection with the City of Sarnia to understand what our next steps are to alleviate any traffic concerns in and around all three of our schools and in addition the French school right next to us," Janssens said.
In the meantime, bell times have been staggered to avoid heavy traffic congestion in the area.
The city is also expected to complete a sidewalk extension along the east side of Rapids Parkway from Gregory A. Hogan to Berger Road by mid to late October, at which time the pedestrian crossover at the intersection of Rapids Parkway and Lizucha Drive will become operational.
Schools in the area include Gregory A. Hogan, St. Patrick’s, St. Anne, and School Secondary Franco-Jeunesse.