New school tops list of board's capital projects

Construction of a new JK-12 school in Blind River is continuing for the Algoma District School Board.

“We had a good summer. I know they’re trying to close in certain sections of the building before winter weather comes so that they can keep moving on the inside,” said Joe Santa Maria, ADSB associate director of corporate services and operations, referring to the new Three Rivers JK-12 School in Blind River.

Some of the new school’s foundation walls are done while others are in progress, Santa Maria told reporters after the board’s regular monthly meeting held Tuesday.

ADSB is aiming to have Three Rivers completed by 2026.

“That would be the goal. We want to make sure that we keep in touch with the contractor and work with them as they go through the project. At this point in time we’re on track,” Santa Maria said.

The $50.5-million school will be shared by the ADSB and Conseil scolaire du Grand Nord, located at 158 Youngfox Road in Blind River.

It will include 381 JK-12 spaces, 64 child care spaces and 72 French-language elementary spaces for families in the region.

Other capital project work that took place over the summer of 2024, consisting of major renovations to existing ADSB schools in the Sault and Algoma District, includes:

• White Pines Collegiate shop upgrades
• Korah Collegiate west entrance along with other interior and exterior upgrades
• Tarentorus Public School daycare and two new classrooms
• Isabel Fletcher Public School interior and exterior upgrades
• River View Public School interior upgrades including a revamped main entrance and front office
• Chapleau School outdoor classroom for JK-12

Work on Tarentorus Public School’s daycare and two new classrooms is complete, Santa Maria said.

White Pines Collegiate’s shop upgrades will need two more summer construction seasons to complete, with ADSB hoping for completion in 2026.

Two phases have been completed in that project, including the robotics and computer areas and, more recently, a new auto shop.

“Korah will need some time to complete, but it’s almost done,” Santa Maria said.

Capital project work performed in the summer of 2024 cost approximately $30 million.

“Some of it was applied for. A good chunk of that was for the Blind River project. Each year we get about $15 million to complete those types of projects to upgrade our facilities,” Santa Maria said.

He said 32 of ADSB’s 41 schools have had renovations done over the past few years.

The board’s operations budget committee plans to meet in November to discuss proposed capital projects for 2025.