Capital project costs could hit $45 million, ADSB says

The Algoma District School Board (ADSB) could potentially cough up as much as $45 million for a series of capital projects for 2018-2019.

Business superintendent Joe Santa Maria told reporters at Tuesday night’s board meeting that ADSB doesn’t disclose funding amounts for each individual project.

“We don’t come out and have amounts that will influence the tender price,” Santa Maria said.

Just over $20.5 million of that funding will be set aside in order to address 11 capital projects, with more than $24 million potentially being doled out for the board’s capital priority projects, including the construction of a new JK-12 school in Blind River, which will be shared with Conseil Scolaire Public Du Grand Nord L’Ontario.

“We’re just waiting for this government to release the approval to move forward with the project, so we’re probably looking forward to that in the new year,” Santa Maria said.

Meanwhile, a total of six upgrade projects have been approved for Sault Ste. Marie:

• White Pines Collegiate and Vocational School - washroom, change room, ceiling and light upgrades

• Kiwedin Public School - Roof replacement and interior upgrades

• Tarentorus Public School - Interior, classroom and office upgrades

• R.M. Moore Public School - Interior and parking lot bus loop upgrades, childcare addition

• East View Public School - Classroom, heating upgrades

• Korah Collegiate and Vocational School - Locker replacement, interior upgrades

Upgrades to both Central Algoma Secondary School (CASS) and Central Algoma Elementary School are also on the horizon, including a couple of new additions.

Central Algoma Elementary School will see a five-classroom addition and a new addition that will house a daycare facility, while upgrades to washrooms and science rooms at CASS have been deemed as 'work to continue.' 

Santa Maria says that ADSB is waiting for the approval and release of the project for tender - and the relocation of students from the soon-to-be shuttered Arthur Henderson Public School in Bruce Mines - before work on the project can get underway.

Any funds not used for capital projects in a given year must be placed in specific reserves that would then be used for capital spending in future budget years.

Santa Maria told reporters that many of the capital projects for 2018-2019 could be completed by the time the beginning of the next academic year rolls around.

“If we get out to tender, the majority of the work will be done by the end of the summer, or August 2019,” he said.

Other upgrade projects slated for this year will take place at Echo Bay Central, Elliot Lake Secondary School and Chapleau JK-12 school.

The school board says that the annual grant money received each year for its capital projects is solely for the purpose of capital expenditures, and cannot be diverted into other spending priorities.