The provincial government has approved $12 million for the construction of the Greenville elementary school. It has taken years of delays due to high costs that were way beyond the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board's budget per CBC News.
The spokesperson for the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, Shawn McKillop, stated that the Ministry of Education had already approved the tender but had required additional information before the board could proceed. This approval allows the board to finally award the contract.
The delay was also due to other challenges that needed to be overcome including budgeting, design alterations and a change in government.
The province is approving up to $12,024,000 for this project and construction will begin as early as September. The school will accommodate 381 students and two childcare rooms.
The building was originally conceived as a joint school and community centre hybrid project with the city. It was planned to have a school, a daycare and a public library branch in order to be a "community hub" but instead of building the planned 45,000 square foot site all at once, there will be a phased approach to the project.
The school and the daycare centre will be the first to be constructed and the public library branch and community centre will then follow.
The approval to build this school actually came around four years ago, but when the project went to tender, it was significantly over budget. This happened again at the end of summer last year. The old building which was originally built in 1848 was demolished last summer.
According to The Hamilton Spectator, the school board first received approval in November 2015 to use Ministry of Education and board funding to build a new school on the old Greensville site to house students from Greensville and Spencer Valley.
"We are excited to get shovels in the ground, begin construction and have students settled into their new elementary school on the Greensville site. This is great news for area residents who have been patiently awaiting a collaborative community hub that will include Ministry daycare followed by a city community centre and library branch."
Board Trustee for Ward 13 | Paul Tut
Earlier this summer, the board warned unusually slow provincial aprovals could jeopardize construction timelines on school projects, including Greensville.
No date has been given at this time for when the school will be ready but it usually takes anywhere from 12 to 16 months after construction begins.
DataBid is currently reporting on this project - HWDSB New Greensville Elementary School (0124042519)
DataBid is currently reporting on this project - HWDSB New Greensville Elementary School Public Library and Community Centre (0020061118)