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Province to spend $3.9M on St. Basil conversion (updated)

Sault MPP David Orazietti announced this morning the province will provide $3.9 million for a longstanding proposal to turn the soon-to-be-vacated St. Basil Secondary School into an elementary facility.

Sault MPP David Orazietti announced this morning the province will provide $3.9 million for a longstanding proposal to turn the soon-to-be-vacated St. Basil Secondary School into an elementary facility.

Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board (HSCDSB) students from St. Pius X, St. Ann, St. Bernadette, and St. Theresa will attend classes there.

"We're committed to bringing students together from nearby schools where declining enrolment has reduced programming.  This consolidation will reduce the cost of under-utilized space and reinvest those savings back into the classroom," Orazietti said.

"The day of the neighbourhood school where all the students simply walked down the street to their neighbourhood school is changing.  The population and demographics don't reflect that reality today, and so there's a need for these types of consolidations," Orazietti said.

Making that transition is tough for students, parents and school boards, but there is an up side to the St. Basil transformation.

The school has special rooms for such programs as music and dance, as well as a large gym and cafeteria. 

"Those types of spaces are not normally found in an elementary school, so you can see the potential for enhanced start programs.  We're hoping to keep those spaces open as much as we can," said John Stadnyk, HSCDSB director of education, speaking to reporters after Friday's funding announcement .

"The original St. Mary's College, which housed Notre Dame des Grands Lacs, will be the part earmarked for demolition, but there is a part of that which was newly added and we hope to reconfigure that space, possibly with a daycare space."

St. Basil will finish its time as a secondary school this summer.

Stadnyk said an architect will be brought on board soon to help design renovations, which will take place over the course of the 2016-2017 school year, in time for classes to open in September 2017.

Stadnyk said the board anticipates the school will accommodate over 500 students.

As for possible loss of jobs for teachers and other staff once St. Basil closes as a high school and reopens as an elementary facility, Stadnyk said "when we consolidated at Holy Cross we had a small excess (at first) but actually the numbers have grown and the staffing has rebounded there and I'm hopeful the impact on jobs will be minimal and the numbers will be solid here."  

The following is a press release issued by MPP David Orazietti.

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Ontario is investing in Sault Ste. Marie students by renovating a local school to better support student achievement and well-being, announced David Orazietti MPP today.

“Our government is continuing to make investing in local schools a top priority, and is committed to providing world class learning environments for our students,” said Orazietti.  “By strengthening school communities through improved facilities and by creating more opportunities, we are setting students in Sault Ste. Marie up for success.”

A provincial investment of $3.9 million will allow work to begin in 2015-16 on a significant renovation to convert St. Basil Secondary School into an elementary school that will bring together all students currently enrolled in St. Pius X Catholic School, St. Ann Catholic School, St. Bernadette Catholic School, and St. Theresa Catholic School.

The renovation also includes a significant investment toward improved full-day kindergarten classrooms.

High school students currently attending St. Basil are scheduled to move to the new St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary School in the fall of 2015. 

“The Board is grateful that the Ministry has approved our funding request to make modifications to St. Basil Secondary in preparation for its transition to an elementary school,” said HSCDSB Director of Education, John Stadnyk. “These funds will allow the Board to enhance student safety and the overall student experience at our newest elementary school.”

By bringing together students from nearby schools where declining enrollment has led to reduced programming and excess space, Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board (HSCDSB) is ensuring an efficient use of Ontario’s publicly funded education system.

This move will provide students with better buildings, greater learning opportunities and will allow the HSCDSB to focus funding on student education.

Giving students the best possible learning environment is part of the government’s plan for Ontario. 

The four-part plan is building Ontario up by investing in people’s talents and skills, building new public infrastructure like roads and transit, creating a dynamic, supportive environment where business thrives, and building a secure savings plan so everyone can afford to retire.

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(PHOTO: Sault MPP David Orazietti speaks with John Stadnyk, HSCDSB director of education, and Leslie Cassidy-Amadio, HSCDSB chair, at a renovation announcement at St. Basil Secondary School, March 27, 2015.  Darren Taylor/SooToday)


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Darren Taylor

About the Author: Darren Taylor

Darren Taylor is a news reporter and photographer in Sault Ste Marie. He regularly covers community events, political announcements and numerous board meetings. With a background in broadcast journalism, Darren has worked in the media since 1996.
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