Even before it is built, there are more pupils than a new Belmont elementary school’s original plans would accommodate.
But an additional $3.4 million from Ontario’s Education Ministry boosts the available budget for the Elgin County school, allowing plans to be redrawn to increase the number of pupil spaces to 507, up from 354.
Thames Valley director of education Mark Fisher called the new funding “great news.”
“We appreciate the ministry’s responsiveness to the evolving needs of the school community, and its flexibility with regards to expanding the Belmont elementary school construction project,” he said in an emailed statement.
The total construction budget for the project, located in the community between St. Thomas and London, is now $12.1 million.
Population growth during the past few years has put pressure on the school board, with many elementary and secondary schools operating over capacity.
Enrollment at Summerside elementary school in southeast London already has been capped even though it opened in September 2022.
Ontario gave its approval to the new, long-awaited Belmont school in 2020, more than two years after Thames Valley District board trustees originally gave their OK.
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Trustees take unprecedented step, expropriate land for new school
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Ontario green-lights new, $8.7-million Belmont elementary school
But unable to make a deal with the owner of a three-hectare property for the project, trustees approved the expropriation of land for the school last month.
The board expects to finalize land for the project in the fall.
In a release, Rob Flack, Progressive Conservative MPP for Elgin-Middlesex-London, said Education Minister Stephen Lecce learned last fall the school would not have enough space when it opened.
“I am very appreciative that our government and the minister of education responded so quickly to alleviate this potential problem,” he said.
More details about the new Belmont school and other Thames Valley construction projects can be found at www.tvdsb.ca/projects.