Construction is ready to begin this month at the site of Chatham's new Catholic elementary school, but the school won't be ready for students and staff for the next school year as initially intended.
The St. Clair Catholic District School Board's trustees approved a low bid tender for construction of the school during a meeting on Wednesday, which was awarded to Norlon Builders Limited of London. The board has committed $993,913 from its surplus funds to the project at 801 McNaughton Ave. W. The Municipality of Chatham-Kent will also contribute another $259,881 in funding towards a community room and shared meeting space.
Map for proposed new Catholic school in Chatham. (Photo courtesy of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent).
“We are celebrating this giant step forward in the process to build a new Catholic school in Chatham,” said Deb Crawford, director of education, in a news release. “It is an exciting time in our history for students, families, staff and our parish partners as we move forward with our vision for the future of Catholic education in Chatham.”
The board said it was able to work with its municipal partners, staff, the project architect and ministry advisors, to close a funding gap that emerged, due to changing market conditions.
While construction on the $16,082,973 project is expected to begin later this month, the board said it will be impossible to meet its original timeline which called for the school to be ready for students and staff in September 2019. A new official opening date is expected to be announced once construction gets underway.
The board said is also continuing to work with its community partners to secure a location for another Catholic elementary school in Chatham's south end.
