future High School

I was driving out Sunnidale Road this morning. I saw all of the site preparation being done at the site of our future High School. As I drove by, all I could think of is how much further ahead the Public School board is than the Separate School Board in building a much needed High School in Wasaga Beach. I also realized despite only being one step away… it may not happen for years.

All that is needed is a nod of approval and a funding commitment from the Ontario Ministry of Education. Now before anyone says “didn’t we already get that?” Well no.

There are two school boards trying to build here. The Separate School Board (S) and the Public School Board (P).

(S) Has secured $60M funding.

(P) Has not secured funding.

(S) Has massive Council support including several lobbying meetings with Minister of finance, even a partnership to build an auditorium/ theatre in the school for public use.

(P) Has received a letter of support from our Mayor.

(S) Has not actually secured the land yet, although there is talk of a deal in place involving the Town, the Developer and the board. Part of the TPAL parking lot is said to be a part of this deal.

(P) Followed the ministry guidelines. They knew they had to own the property as part of the business case to qualify for funding. They secured a site, got approval from the Ministry and presently own and are preparing the site in Sunnidale Trails Sub-Division.

(S) is planning a K-12 school with 500 K-8 and 500 9-1 Students. They did not have enough high school aged students to justify a build using their current enrollment. They have plenty of need in their elementary system.

(P) is planning a 9-12 school with 1140 students. They expect to be at capacity when built.

Translation- with 500 students, the (S) will be able to provide basic academics, whereas with 1140 students, the (P) will be able to provide full STEM programming – shops, etc.. (this is based on the funding model of payments/ budgets based on numbers of students enrolled.)

(S) What they need is to purchase the property, design the building, enter into agreements with Town and build and operate the school.

(P) All they need is the money to build and operate the school. The land is owned, existing engineering/ designs only require modifications to suit the local property size and personalizing the school.

(S) Will have enough capacity for a few hundred public school students after their needs are suited. There will still be 700 or so students bussed out of town.

(P) Will have enough capacity to ensure ALL students who want to attend school here at home will do so.

If both schools get built, (funding for (P) and land/plan for (S)) Wasaga Beach will no longer bus students out of town.

So… It’s important to recognize that efforts by the town to secure our first ever high school by partnering with the (S) MAY have strained the chances of the Ministry funding a second school build in Wasaga Beach. Let’s hope 60 million plus operating costs won’t jeopardize another 60-80 million.

What can we- (EVERYONE) do to help.

Write a brief letter to the Minister of Education. Express how you look forward to our youth being given the opportunity to attend school here, at home in Wasaga Beach.

I have not heard of our Council or staff lobbying the Minister like they did for the (S), so we MUST let the Minister know that the CITIZENS of Wasaga Beach want/ need a new Public High School.

Write now…

Minister of Education

jill.dunlopco@pc.ola.org

Copy

Brian.Saunderson@pc.ola.org