New Francis H. Clergue School ready for students

NEWS RELEASE

DAVID ORAZIETTI, MPP

****************************** Orazietti announces completion of new $15.5 million public elementary school

Provincial investment in new state-of-the-art infrastructure supporting student success and creating local jobs SAULT STE. MARIE – Elementary school students in Sault Ste. Marie, their families and the local community will all benefit from the provincial government’s $15.5 million investment in the newly constructed Francis H. Clergue French Immersion public elementary school, David Orazietti, MPP announced today. “Completion of this school is another example of the province’s commitment to rebuild Sault Ste. Marie’s education system by building state-of-the-art infrastructure that is helping all of our students reach their full potential,” said Orazietti. “It has been decades since a provincial government has provided the financial support necessary to substantially improve existing school infrastructure in our city and the increase in local per pupil funding of 65% since 2003, has helped to raise graduation rates from 68% to 81% today." The former Francis H. Clergue public elementary school was one of several schools in Sault Ste. Marie identified as prohibitive-to-repair by the Ministry of Education.

Provincial investments have allowed the community to undertake a number of important capital projects.

Most recently, the province delivered $43 million for a new state-of-the-art Catholic secondary school for the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board (HSCDSB) that will allow for the consolidation of Holy Angels Learning Center, St. Basil Secondary School and St. Mary’s College in order to help ensure local students have the best resources to learn, grow and succeed.

In fact, the HSCDSB received the highest level of funding for this project, out of 73 projects announced in June across Ontario. “Our French Immersion program has always been of a very high quality and we’re extremely pleased and thankful to the Province for working with us to provide a first class learning environment that will graduate students fluent in both of Canada’s official languages,” said Mario Turco, Director of Algoma District School Board. “Francis H. Clergue French Immersion school combines current thinking with the latest technology and architectural advancements. These design elements and program options will continue to enhance student achievement and well being for all our learners."

"Thank you to everyone who has played a part in bringing us to this landmark occasion,” said Wanda McQueen, Chair of the Algoma District School Board. “Our Board is proud of the design features and program opportunities this new school will provide for students, staff and the community. We believe all our schools are the centre of their communities, and this school will be no different. It will lend itself to wonderful community relationships and continued partnerships." In April, the province announced additional per pupil funding for all school boards, which brings the total increase to Sault and area schools to $34 million over the last 8 years.

The province has committed a total of $194 million in base funding for local school boards in the 2011-12 Grants for Student Needs (GSN), despite a decline in enrolment of 5,045 students during the same period. Provincial investments in education since 2003 are delivering results as test scores are continuing to improve in reading, writing and math and graduation rates have increased from 68% in 2003 to 81% today. Since 2004, the Good Places to Learn initiative and other capital development programs have resulted in school improvement funding including: - Algoma District School Board is receiving $106.9 million to undertake various school improvement projects

- Huron Superior Catholic District School Board is receiving $30.4 million to undertake various school improvement projects

- Conseil Scolaire Catholique du Nouvel Ontario is receiving $64.7 million to undertake various school improvement projects New school infrastructure funding of approximately $130 million includes - $46.7 million for the Algoma District School Board to construct Superior Heights Secondary School

- $43 million for the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board to construct a new Secondary school

- $15.5 million for the Algoma District School Board to construct a new Francis H. Clergue Elementary School

- $14.6 million for the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board to expand St. Patrick Elementary School

- $10.4 million for the Conseil Scolaire Catholique du Nouvel Ontario to expand Ecole Notre-Dame-du-Sault ******************************