The Bluewater District School Board. (supplied photo)
The Bluewater District School Board (BWDSB) is upgrading several of its schools this summer before students head back this September.
Communications Officer Jamie Pettit says these regularly performed upgrades include new parking spaces, HVAC replacements, and making schools more accessible.
“A lot of people think of the school year as September to June, but we always try to remind that there is so much that happens behind the scenes over the summer months. Anybody who has driven by our various school locations will see that there is a wide range summer work happening,” says Pettit.
He says some of the projects happening over the summer include some modernization work to the gymnasium at Saugeen District Senior School, which features accessible showers and washrooms, a new elevator, and work to the autoshop.
The board is also installing an elevator at G. C. Huston Public School to support accessibility.
Owen Sound District Secondary School has a number of projects underway, including updating the change rooms with showers, the existing portable is being removed to free up some space, and the school is also in the process of having its tennis courts revamped.
“Heating, ventilation and air conditioning work is happening at a number of locations district wide to air quality for students and staff,” says Pettit.
Spruce Ridge Community School in Durham is one such school which will be receiving 17 HVAC upgrades. He adds a new fence is being put up facing Saddler Street to improve student safety.
“Then we have a number of different smaller scale projects. Elgin Market Public School, Huron Heights Public School, both in Kincardine, as well as Kincardine Township-Tiverton Public School, they have some parking lot works happening and play area resurfacing,” says Pettit.
He adds over $17 million was earmarked for the upgrade projects, which was supported by Ministry of Education funding.
“This is a pretty standard process that the board engages in over the summer months. With the combination of some of our aging facilities and whatnot, we just always need to make sure that all of our schools are up to date,” says Pettit.
He says the goal is to ensure the projects are completed by the time students and staff return from summer holidays, but some of the larger projects could extend into the school year.
