The Ontario government is investing $28 million in Bluewater District School Board (BWDSB) with the announcement of a new Dundalk elementary school build through the Capital Priorities Program.
Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Rick Byers made the announcement at Highpoint Community School in Dundalk on Friday, May 31, 2024. Joining MPP Byers was special guest, Minister of Education Stephen Lecce, along with BWDSB Chair Jane Thomson, Director of Education Lori Wilder, board, school, and ministry staff, municipal partners, students, parents, and media representatives.
The new build will be in addition to the two existing Dundalk schools, Highpoint Community and Dundalk and Proton Community schools, which will remain open.
“This is such exciting news for the Dundalk community. With the expansion in housing development locally, it is great that there will be a new school for current and future students to enjoy,” said MPP Rick Byers. “This investment will support the creation of 735 student spaces and 54 licensed child care spaces as part of the government’s commitment to building state-of-the-art learning spaces for Ontario students.”
“Our government is more than doubling the funding to build new schools, which represents the single largest investment in school building in Ontario history,” said Minister Lecce. “We are stepping up with a massive investment to build the homes, schools, and communities our province needs, and to ensure children have access to state-of-the-art schools close to home that gives them real life and job skills to succeed in the future. I want to reiterate my thanks to MPP Rick Byers for his relentless advocacy for local families.”
“We are thrilled by the news of this significant investment in a brand new school build with child care spaces to meet the growing demand that we have been witnessing in recent years in Dundalk,” said BWDSB Chair Jane Thomson. “With new families continuing to move into this high-growth community, our board will be well-positioned to accommodate the educational needs of area students for many years to come. Thank you to the Ministry of Education for recognizing a vital need in the Dundalk area by approving and funding this project. We also appreciate the efforts of our local MPP Rick Byers, who has continued to advocate on behalf of our students, our many supportive municipal and community partners, and our staff whose thorough research and hard work were instrumental in a successful business case submission.”
The new Dundalk elementary school will be located at a site to be acquired in Southgate.
Source: Media release, Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Rick Byers