2 new elementary schools will ease growth pressures in London, school board chair says
Province to invest total of $55 million for new schools in west London and southeast London
Ontario's Ministry of Education has announced $55 million in funding for two new elementary schools in southeast and west London that will house more than 1,000 students when they're completed in two years.
Schools in these areas have been on Thames Valley District School Board's (TVDSB) wish list and Monday's announcement was welcome news.
"It really comes down to where we're growing in this city," said Beth Mai, the school board's chair.
"These two new schools will help us continue to address pressures that arise with having new development in the area, because with new developments will come families, and families need schools."
The investment includes a $27.1 million elementary school in west London that will accommodate 525 students and include a five-room child care centre.
A $28.2 million elementary school in the city's southeast will have room for 655 students, and a five-room child care centre.
The locations for the two schools have not yet been announced.
Enrolment at the region's largest school board hit record highs in 2023, climbing to approximately 85,000 students. Director of education, Mark Fisher said in September that the school board gained 6,000 additional students in the past four years.
"As one of the fastest growing school boards in Ontario, Thames Valley will benefit greatly from the Ministry's approval of funding for these two schools and child care centres," Fisher said in a news release.
More TVDSB schools in surrounding areas
Education Minister Stephen Lecce was in London on Monday for a groundbreaking ceremony for a new school on Buroak Drive in the city's northwest. A second school is being built in southwest London on Regiment Road. Both schools are set to open September 2025.
"We are stepping up with a massive investment to build the homes, schools, and communities our province needs, and to ensure children have access to state-of-the-art schools close to home that give them real life and job skills to succeed in the future," Lecce said.
In March, the province also announced $45.6 million for two new elementary schools in Lucan-Biddulph and Komoka. The school in Komoka will be run by the London District Catholic School Board.
The Ministry has been cooperative in reducing the times school boards have to wait to get approval to build new schools, said Mai, adding that the board intends to ask the province for funding to build two additional schools as population continues to grow.
"We're hoping that they open up capital priorities submissions again sometime soon so that we can have a look at the other ones on our list which are a school in north London and a building in Thamesford," she said.
There will be public information sessions to discuss what the new west and southeast London schools will look like. They are expected to be completed by the 2026-2027 school year.