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Ontario Building New School in Oro-Medonte

Submitted by the Office of MPP Doug Downey

Province’s investment in innovative and modern learning spaces will ensure students have high quality education in a safe and healthy environment

Feb. 23, 22024 – As part of the province’s ongoing efforts to build and improve local schools, the Ontario government has provided the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) with approval to award the tender for the new Oro-Medonte Elementary School and Community Centre. This is supported by an investment of nearly $30 million, which includes $8.5 million from the Township of Oro-Medonte for the community centre.

“For years, the people of Oro-Medonte have highlighted the need for a new school to serve the growing population of families moving to the area,” said Doug Downey, MPP for Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte. “This new school guarantees that children will receive high quality education right in their own community.”

When the Oro-Medonte Elementary School and Community Centre was first announced in 2018, the school was originally approved for 357 students, with a Capital Priorities funding of $8.5 million. Once completed, this project will deliver 570 spaces for elementary students, with up to $23.8 million in Capital funding. This is an increase of 213 pupil spaces, and up to $15.3 million in funding from the Ministry of Education. The Township of Oro-Medonte also increased their funding contribution from $6.8 million to $8.5 million.

Once completed, the Oro-Medonte Elementary School and Community Centre will include: a full-size gymnasium with auditorium (shared space with SCDSB); a multi-purpose space (for the Township); and multi-purpose trails around the property.

Additionally, Ontario is taking action to ensure that school board capital assets are used effectively and efficiently to meet the needs of growing communities, support student learning and ensure value for taxpayer dollars. The Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, 2023 empowers decision-makers to build modern schools faster by better utilizing school capacity, reducing barriers for school boards to facilitate agreements for schools in multi-use buildings such as condo towers, and shortening planning time through design standardization when constructing, renovating, or making additions to schools.

“We are determined to build schools and expansions faster, part of our commitment to modernize schools in fast growing communities,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education. “We are proud to deliver a new, state-of-the-art Oro-Medonte Elementary School and Community Centre for local families, along with increasing funding, staffing and a back-to-basics focus on reading, writing and math skills to help ensure students graduate with confidence that they can succeed in good-paying careers.”

Highlights of the project include:

  • 570 new elementary student spaces
  • Community Centre

“Under Premier Ford’s leadership, we’re building more state-of-the-art schools to support the needs of Ontario’s students, families and growing communities. By investing in innovative and modern learning spaces, we’re ensuring students have access to the quality education that will provide them with lifelong skills and education in a safe and healthy environment,” said Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure. “These investments are one of the ways we’re delivering on our promise to build Ontario, with an infrastructure budget of more than $148 billion over the next decade.”

The Simcoe County District School Board is grateful for the investments from the Ontario government and Township of Oro-Medonte,” said John Dance, Director of Education.  “We are pleased to partner with the Township of Oro-Medonte on this new and innovative joint-use facility that will serve the learning needs of students and provide opportunity for community use in an area of Simcoe County that continues to experience significant growth.”

“On behalf of Oro-Medonte Council and staff, we are excited to welcome a new Elementary School and Community Centre to our community. The new school will ensure quality education for area students responsive to growth of the Horseshoe Valley area while optimizing tax dollars through public partnership. Thank you to the Province of Ontario for recognizing and supporting the need for a new Elementary School in Oro-Medonte, and to the Simcoe County District School Board for your willingness to partner with the Township,” said Randy Greenlaw, Mayor of Oro-Medonte. “Your continued hard work and dedication toward this important initiative is very much appreciated. The Community Centre will provide a Township wide facility located within the geographic centre of Oro-Medonte, for all residents to enjoy. We look forward to the doors of this new community facility opening.”

The Oro-Medonte Elementary School and Community Centre will be located at 739 Horseshoe Valley Road.

Quick Facts:

  • Since 2018, the Ontario government has invested over $2.2 billion in capital projects in education, including 100 new schools, 88 additions and renovations to existing facilities and nearly 6,500 new licensed child care spaces.
  • For the 2023-24 school year, the province is providing school boards with approximately $1.4 billion in funding to revitalize and renew aged building systems and components.
  • In June, Ontario passed the Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, 2023 that will ensure the public education system focuses on what matters most: teaching important life-long skills such as reading, writing and math; improving accountability and transparency for parents and families; maximizing capital assets of boards to support building modern schools faster and better utilizing current school capacity.
  • In March 2022, Ontario secured a six-year, $13.2 billion agreement with the federal government that will lower child care fees for families to an average of $10 a day for children under the age of six. Ontario aims to reach that target by September 2025.
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