Facility Development Plans 

The Ministry of Education released memorandum 2024: B11 - Launch of 2024-25 Capital Priorities Program for the 2024-25 School Year, allowing school boards to apply for funding to address capital costs for school renewal and planning capacity.

In preparation for this opportunity, Bluewater District School Board staff continue to look at long term projections, as well as population and enrolment growth across the district. In June 2020, a 5-Year Facility Planning Strategy was completed with recommendations based on board enrolment projections using current trends along with information on municipal and building developments. Staff were able to focus on areas where student enrolment pressures are projected to meet or exceed school capacities in the near future.

It was shared at the Business Committee of the Whole meeting on September 3, 2024 that staff will be updating and submitting a business case for a growth Saugeen Shores elementary school. 

Saugeen Shores and Area Elementary 

An overview of the Saugeen Shores and Area Elementary submission is available here: 
Facility Planning Strategy - Saugeen Shores and Area Elementary



Facility Planning Strategy

Staff at Bluewater District School Board and Watson & Associates Economist Ltd. are currently working to revise a long-term capital plan in anticipation of being completed in the spring 2025. Enrolment pressures, development growth/decline, long term projections for all regions in Bluewater will be presented to the Board of Trustees and analyzed by staff to support Bluewater District School Board's future capital priorities submissions.  

The Bluewater District School Board 2019-2024,  5-Year Facility Planning Strategy, was prepared by Bluewater District School Board staff with input from Watson & Associates Economist Ltd. and Simcoe County District School Board Planning Department, was presented. The strategy is a board-wide analysis with a focus on identifying areas and facilities that present certain factors or triggers in relation to pupil spaces, school condition, board finances and programming considerations.

BWDSB 2019-2024 5 Year Facility Planning Strategy

At the Business Committee of the Whole Meeting held on May 6, 2014, the capital planning report, which was prepared by the firm Watson & Associates was presented to address the excess space and resultant financial impact on board facilities. Jack Ammendolia from Watson & Associates spoke to the common problem of excess space in schools across Ontario school boards and provided a presentation outlining the methodology used, findings and recommendations, including projected utilization rates and potential savings if the recommendations were implemented.

In July 2016, Watson & Associates completed an update to the 2014 report. The presentation and executive summary are provided below which were presented to the Board of Trustees in September 2016.

Watson & Associates Capital Plan Executive Summary