CSCNO to consolidate 3 Valley schools in new building

If Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario (CSCNO) trustees have their way, students at three of the board's schools will soon be attending classes together at a new facility.

Trustees voted at their Sept. 23 meeting to consolidate École Ste-Thérèse (Val Thérèse), École St-Joseph (Hanmer) and École Notre-Dame (Hanmer) schools in a new junior kindergarten to Grade 8 school on a new site.

The construction project is conditional upon the School Board securing funding from the Ministry of Education.

This decision was adopted following a consultation process with Valley East families during the 2013-2014 school year and the completion of a feasibility study that evaluated various options, which included the construction of a new school, as well as the modernization of existing buildings.

This capital project was identified as being the top priority for the CSCNO among its priority projects submitted to the Ministry of Education.

The evaluation of possible properties will be pursued and a decision on the preferred site for the new school will be presented at the school board’s upcoming meeting Oct. 28.

“The consolidation of our three schools will enable us to offer Valley East’s French-language Catholic families quality learning spaces designed to meet the academic, cultural and spiritual needs of our students,” said André Bidal, president of the CSCNO.

“While ensuring that all students continue to have access to the best French Catholic education possible, uniting students in one school will allow us to offer our students a dynamic and inclusive learning environment.”