Picton, ON - The Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board (ALCDSB) have received approval from the province of Ontario for the acquisition of land in Picton's west end for a new school site.
The $4.6 million dollars in Land Priorities funding will allow the Board to purchase the property at 175 Talbot St. in Picton, for the purpose of building a replacement school for St. Gregory Catholic School, currently located on Owen St. in Picton.
The five acres of land the ALCDSB have acquired for the school site is located in Picton's west end, an area experiencing considerable home development.
Front Row: Students from the grade 4/5 class at St. Gregory Catholic School.
(L-R): Leah, Antonio, Isaac, Emma, Millie.
Back Row (L-R): Dave Cleave, developer, Ms. Thomlinson, Principal of St. Gregory Catholic School, MPP Todd Smith, Tom Dall, Chair of the Board for the ALCDSB, Mayor Steve Ferguson, Prince Edward County, David DeSantis, Director of Education.
“On behalf of the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board and the St. Gregory Catholic School community, I would like to thank the Ministry of Education and MPP Smith for their support in the approval of this capital priority as articulated in our Multi-Year Strategic Plan, which is a brand-new 354 pupil place school at 175 Talbot Street in Picton," said David DeSantis, Director of Education.
The ALCDSB was awarded $8.7 million in 2019-2020 through the ministry's Capital Priorities program to construct a new 354-pupil K- 8 school to address pupil accommodation requirements.
"We thank the province for their productive collaboration, and significant investment in our faith-filled Catholic learning communities." Said Tom Dall, Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board.
The current St. Gregory school site is situated on a 2.2 acres plot and is unable to accommodate further expansion to the existing facility.
“The ALCDSB are blessed to have received approval from the province of Ontario to move forward with acquiring land for a new school site in Picton. The rebuild of St. Gregory Catholic Elementary School is essential in order to accommodate our growing Catholic school community." Said Greg Speagle, ALCDSB School Board Trustee for Prince Edward County, Greater Napanee, Loyalist Township, Stone Mills and Addington Highlands.
The Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board serves approximately 12,000 students, employs over 1,400 full-time equivalent staff and covers a geographical area of more than 16,000 square kilometers.
The ALCDSB builds faith-filled learning communities where each member is loved, inspired, and successful.
