Catholic elementary students in Chatham will have two new schools by the fall of 2019.
The St. Clair Catholic District School Board has received $26.7-million from the Ministry of Education to build one school in the north end and the other in the south.
Board Director Dan Parr says this is a very exciting and historic time for catholic education in Chatham.
"We're feeling very satisfied that the work of our staff, parents, and volunteers in our committee. The research that was compiled to develop our case seems to have been viewed by the Ministry of Education as a very solid business case," says Parr.
The board says some of the funding will be used for child care facilities at both locations.
The two new schools will replace St. Vincent, St. Agnes, and Our Lady of Fatima in the north and St. Joseph, St. Ursula, and Georges P. Vanier in the south. A newly renovated Our Lady of Fatima will house the Chatham French Immersion Program, replacing Monsignor Uyen.
Parr says the exact location of the schools is still being finalized and will be announced in the coming weeks.
"We own acreage on McNaughton Ave across from St. Clair College's Chatham campus. It's the right size. It's eight to ten acres there and that's what we consider to be the ideal site for a new elementary school," Parr says.
Parr says the board is still exploring other locations for both the north and south schools.
"We are still exploring other sites within north Chatham. There are a few other places that we are exploring and in south Chatham we don't own any acreage," says Parr.
