COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Funding 

The Ministry of Education released memorandum 2020:B20 - COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream: Education Related (CVRIS-EDU) Projects. Bluewater District School Board's (BWDSB) focus was placed on quality ventilation, promotion of health and safety, and technology in schools. The strategically planned projects have assisted BWDSB's technology investment and ensured our students a modern technological environment as well as enhancing healthy and safe schools.

Learn more about this initiative:
Investing in COVID-19 Community Resilience | Government of Canada

These projects are funded in part by the Government of Canada.



These projects are funded in part by the Government of Ontario.

Facility Development Plans 

The Ministry of Education released memorandum 2021: B09 - Capital Funding for the 2021-22 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.

Dundalk Elementary

    

An overview of the Dundalk Elementary submissions is available here: 
Facility Development Plan - Dundalk Elementary

Parents/Guardians are welcome to submit comments to the following email address: [email protected]

Kincardine Elementary

  

An overview of the Kincardine Elementary submissions is available here:
Facility Development Plan - Kincardine Elementary

Parents/Guardians are welcome to submit comments to the following email address: [email protected]



Facility Planning Strategy

At the Business Committee of the Whole Meeting held on June 2, 2020, the Bluewater District School Board 2019-2024,  5-Year Facility Planning Strategy, which 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