Update on new school, Bill says goodbye

Construction of the new St. Mary’s College is proceeding on time and on budget.

Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board (HSCDSB) trustees were briefed on the new school’s progress at their meeting Wednesday evening.

“The last windows are going to be in soon and internal work is progressing,” said John Stadnyk, HSCDSB director of education, speaking to SooToday.

“I was in there Friday, and we’ve got rooms with drywall painted already and flooring, so it’s a sign of things to come.”

“We meet every two weeks with the general contractor (Tambro Construction Ltd., or TCL, of Guelph) and the subcontractors, and we monitor the progress of the project very closely…it’s on schedule, and in some cases, ahead of schedule,” Stadnyk said.

$41.5 million was put aside by the Ministry of Education for construction of the new St. Mary’s College.

The project is on budget, and Stadnyk said there may be a tour of the facility for board officials and trustees in early 2015.

Sam Colizza, HSCDSB manager of plant services, told trustees he is confident the school will be complete in July 2015, in time for the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year as planned.

The board will also be making a funding application to the province for $2.75 million for costs associated with consolidation of four schools (St. Ann, St. Bernadette, St. Pius X and St. Theresa) into one elementary school at the current St. Basil secondary school site, beginning in September 2016.

An additional $1.2 million will be requested from the province for demolition of the original section of the school, the former Notre Dame des Grands Lacs (French language board) wing of the building.     

The school, after consolidation, is projected to have space for 617 elementary level students.

In other Huron-Superior matters, Wednesday’s meeting was the last as a trustee for Bill Murphy, who did not win re-election in the October 27 vote.

Murphy served a single term, beginning in 2010.

“Over the past four years I’ve learned a lot, it was a privilege to be here,” Murphy told the board.

The married father of four daughters, employed as general manager of an electrical parts distributor, said he was looking forward to the opening of the new St. Mary’s College.

Murphy has had an ongoing interest in politics and previously ran as the Family Coalition Party candidate in Sault Ste. Marie in the 2007 provincial election.

“This door has closed and I’m waiting to see what opens,” Murphy said.

The first meeting of the new board of trustees is December 3.