The Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) approved a funding request for two new elementary schools with child care centres at a special board meeting on Tuesday night.
Due to high growth in the area, one of the new schools in Waterloo Region will be located in north Cambridge, near Maple Grove Road.
“There are several plans in north Cambridge that have placed it as a priority for staff. The next phases of the River Mill subdivision near Maple Grove Road have provided an opportunity to secure a new school site in this area,” said Jennifer Passy, manager of planning at the WCDSB.
“There are approximately 100 Catholic elementary students already living in this area and attending our schools. Coupled with future development, there will also be a future of residential growth north of the 401 and we are looking to serve this community by providing a walkable school location.”
WCDSB is also hoping to receive funding for additions to three schools in the region which will include St. Gregory Catholic Elementary School in Cambridge.
“The intent with St. Gregory School, is to provide a re-balancing of the enrolment between St. Augustine School and St. Gregory. Currently, St. Gregory is underutilized, and St. Augustine is facing existing and forecasted enrolment pressures due to residential growth within its boundaries,” Passy said.
“It’s appropriate to rebalance enrolment to the two schools and in order to do that, providing an addition at St. Gregory with some internal configuration of space, will assist in serving that community.”
In February, the ministry issued a call for capital priorities for 2022-2023. Boards are invited to submit up to five projects with a minimum of two being new projects.
These projects are intended to address the district’s accommodation pressures, replace schools in poor condition, support consolidation decisions, provide facilities for French-language rights holders in under-served areas, and create new licenced child care spaces in schools.
The five projects will be forwarded to the province, and a decision will then be made as to which projects get funded first.
If the board receives the requested funding from the province, all new projects are expected to be completed by the 2026/2027 school year.
