Three schools in Chatham about to become vacant won't be sitting empty for long if the mayor has anything to do with it.
Our Lady of Fatima, St. Agnes, and St. Vincent will close at the end of this school year and Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff doesn't want them to sit empty for too long like some other buildings across Chatham-Kent have done in the past. Students from Monsignor Uyen are set to move over to Our Lady of Fatima once it's refurbished, but it's not clear yet what'll happen to St. Agnes and St. Vincent.
Education Director at the St. Clair Catholic District School Board, Deb Crawford, said there is no need to worry because the schools are in good condition and the province has a process in place that typically puts community needs first.
Canniff said he wants to make sure that those buildings are well used and repurposed the right way.
"Historically some people have bought schools and they have been sitting there for ten years empty, we don't want that. We want these buildings repurposed and we want things happening from a municipal perspective. So, the municipality will be active in ensuring we get as good as tenants as possible in there," said Canniff.
Canniff said he doesn't have a preference of what goes in the old schools and just wants it to be a good fit for the municipality.
"There are a lot of opportunities and I won't preference them but we are certainly looking for things that will benefit the community overall," the mayor said.
Tony Montanino, facility manager at the school board, said the community usually benefits when all sides work together.
"In Sarnia when we disposed of the old St. Patrick's High School we worked with the hospital to ensure that provided that community the opportunity to continue to expand its hospital," Montanino said.
Crawford said under the provincial process, communities are offered first crack at surplus schools before they get listed on the real estate market.
