Ontario Education Minister Liz Sandals announced $41-million in funding on Friday afternoon for school construction projects in Ottawa, but nothing for a new public high school in Stittsville.
The Stittsville public high school project had been ranked #2 on the public board’s list of priorities for new construction or renovations. It’s been on the board’s top ten list for years.
“While it is disappointing that funding has not been received for a public high school in Stittsville in this round, yesterday’s announcement brings that project one step closer to becoming reality,” wrote school board trustee Lynn Scott in an email to StittsvilleCentral.ca.
“It is unknown when the next round of capital funding for new school construction will take place,” she said.
Here’s a statement posted on Facebook by the parents group who’s been pushing for a public high school:
“We want to thank you all for your continued support. We will keep fighting for this school when the next call for priorities comes out. The last one was in October 2013, and this one was in July 2015. We hope there won’t be as much delay between them next time. We know this news will be very frustrating for many people, but please stay positive and help us to continue to push for this school!”
Two of the five priority projects identified by the Ottawa Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) will be funded, including a permanent addition to West Carleton Secondary School (ranked #1 on the OCDSB’s priority list), along with a new elementary school in Findlay Creek (#5 on the list).
Scott said that the Findlay Creek school is “needed urgently in light of the imminent need to vacate Elizabeth Park Public School which is currently leased from the Department of Defence.”