Almost $18 million in provincial funding has been approved for a new school in Port Elgin.
The Ministry of Education announced it is providing $17.8 million in Capital Priorities Program funding to the Bluewater District School Board (BWDSB) for an additional school in Port Elgin. The new school is in response to an application from the board to accommodate student enrolment pressure in Saugeen Shores.
The school will be open to 409 pupils from junior kindergarten to Grade 6 and will complement Northport Elementary School and Port Elgin-Saugeen Central School. The board consulted with community and municipal partners, before it submitted a business case to the province to fund an additional school.
“We are extremely pleased and excited to receive such incredible news from the Ministry of Education regarding a new growth school to serve students and families in the Port Elgin area,” says BWDSB Chair Jane Thomson. “Our staff have been diligently working to ensure a successful outcome for this business case application, and we are so appreciative of their efforts, along with the support of our community and municipal partners.”
Board staff will start work on the new school and will provide more information on timelines when further details are known.