Building New Schools

The Ministry of Education Capital Priorities Program (CPP) provides school boards with an opportunity to identify and address their most urgent pupil accommodation needs and submit requests for funding to construct new schools or complete major projects such as school additions or school replacements. 

For the 2023-2024 CPP, school boards were asked to: 

1. Submit detailed project proposals to address current accommodation needs related to:

   • Accommodation Pressures,  
   • School Consolidation,  
   • Facility Condition, and
   • Access to French Language schools.

2. Provide high level summary information on future, longer term growth needs related to the Housing Supply Action Plan municipal growth plans.

3. Provide a priority ranking for the proposals.

DDSB Fall 2023 Submissions

Using the eligibility criteria of the Capital Priorities Program (CPP) guidelines, staff identified areas of project need across the District. Long term enrolment data was analysed in order to develop sound business cases. The DDSB made the following submissions to the Ministry of Education in October 2023 to build new schools in our community:

1. West Whitby Public School– Maskell Crescent and Coronation Road, proposed opening September 2026 (project approved in May 2024) 
2. West Whitby Public School - Cisco Drive and Limoges Street, proposed opening September 2026 (project approved in May 2024) 
3. North Oshawa Public School - Symington Avenue and Steeplechase Street, proposed opening September 2026 (project approved in May 2024) 
4. West Whitby Secondary School, proposed opening September 2027 

While the DDSB can submit projects, there is no guarantee that projects will be approved by the Ministry of Education. We aim to submit robust projects based on real community need as we understand there is a limited amount of funds available for school boards across Ontario. We do not have a timeline on when we will hear back from the Ministry.

To help meet the growth in Durham Region, the DDSB has received Ministry of Education approval for five new school builds and one major addition. The DDSB also provides quarterly updates on the construction status of new schools and major projects on our website.  

Beaver River Public School – Scheduled to open in September 2024 

Construction is underway and the new school will replace and consolidate Beaverton PS and Thorah Central PS on the Beaverton PS site (270 King St, Beaverton). Ministry of Education approval was initially granted in February 2018. However, the length of delay is primarily due to the Ministry approvals process and that the DDSB re-submitted the project to request a larger building that would better accommodate previously unregistered growth in Beaverton. After receiving Ministry approval to build a larger school, we experienced further Ministry delays in receiving final approval. This situation was an anomaly but contributed to the lengthy development timeline.   

Unnamed North Oshawa Public School (Windfields Farm/Wintergrace) – Scheduled to open in September 2024 

Construction is underway and the school will be located at Windfields Farm Drive West and Wintergrace Avenue in Oshawa. Ministry of Education approval was initially granted in October 2020. 

Mary Street Public School – Building addition is scheduled to open in September 2024 

Construction is underway at the current Mary Street PS (110 Mary St N, Oshawa) to replace the existing portapac structure. Ministry of Education approval was initially granted in July 2020. 

Unnamed Coughlan Public School – Scheduled to open in September 2025 

The DDSB has proposed to build a new school at Stannardville Drive and Hurst Drive, after initially intending to build at nearby Tillings Road and Scenic Lane Drive. The new alternative site is build-ready, already owned by the DDSB, and will serve the needs of the same growing community. Project construction will begin pending approval by the Ministry of Education, with an anticipated opening date set for September 2025. 

Unnamed Pickering Seaton Public School – Scheduled to open in September 2025 

Planning and development is underway for this new elementary school to be located at Burkholder Drive and Azalea Avenue in Pickering. Ministry of Education approval was initially granted in May 2022.

Unnamed West Whitby Public School (Maskell/Coronation) – scheduled to open in September 2026

Ministry approval was initially granted in May 2024 to build a new elementary school at Maskell Crescent and Coronation Road in Whitby. The next step is to finalize the project design and begin the municipal approvals process. 

Unnamed West Whitby Public School (Cisco/Limoges) – scheduled to open in September 2026

Ministry approval was initially granted in May 2024 to build a new elementary school at Cisco Drive and Limoges Street in Whitby. The next step is to finalize the project design and begin the municipal approvals process. 

Unnamed North Oshawa Public School (Symington/Steeplechase) – scheduled to open in September 2026

Ministry approval was initially granted in May 2024 to build a new elementary school at Symington Avenue and Steeplechase Street in Oshawa. The next step is to finalize the project design and begin the municipal approvals process. 

Unnamed North Oshawa Secondary School – Scheduled to open in September 2026

Planning and development is underway for this new secondary school to be located at at Windfields Farm Drive East and Bridle Road South in Oshawa. Ministry of Education approval was initially granted in May 2022.

The timing of school construction does not always align with the speed of residential growth as the approval, funding and construction period can be lengthy. In some cases, it could take seven to ten years after the construction of new homes in a neighbourhood for a new school to open. The DDSB purchases land for new schools in advance whenever possible but in some cases, the purchase of land takes place at the same time as the approvals process and can also experience delays. We also work with local municipalities throughout the development process to obtain the necessary planning approvals.  

The previous Ministry of Education approvals process (which applies to all six DDSB schools in development) required four stages of Ministry approval: 

1. Announcement of funding;  
2. Approval of facility space template and appointing an architect;  
3. Approval to proceed to tender based on a cost consultant report; and  
4. Post tender approval if the tender exceeds the approved funding amount. 

Based on provincial (and many cases worldwide) trends associated with rising construction costs and other factors, the previous process meant that Ministry approvals took a significant amount of time before the DDSB was allowed to get shovels in the ground. Based on the previous process, we estimate that it takes approximately three to four years from the initial approval of a school until it can open. We are hopeful that recent changes made by the Ministry will better streamline approvals, provide more cost certainty and help us build schools faster.

The DDSB manages enrolment pressures in many different ways including through permanent boundary reviews to balance enrolment, using existing buildings to their fullest potential, the use of portables, and sustained investment in school renewal projects (renovating space). In some cases, only the construction of a new school or an expansion of an existing school can appropriately address enrolment pressures.  

Boundary Reviews  

The DDSB completed a boundary review in 2023 for Clara Hughes Public School in Oshawa and in 2024 for Vincent Massey Public School in Oshawa. We have also established a new boundary for the Unnamed North Oshawa Public School (Windfields Farm Dr. W/Wintergrace Ave.) that is scheduled to open in September 2024.

We communicate directly with school communities about the boundary review process. It is important to note that a permanent boundary review is one of the last options the DDSB uses as it may mean that some students will have to attend a different school. Any permanent boundary changes to a school are approved by the DDSB Board of Trustees and there is a robust consultation process. As boundary and program reviews take place, detailed information about proposed changes and consultation processes can be found on the Boundary and Program Review page.  

Portables 

Portables are utilized as a temporary measure when there is no available classroom space within a facility and typically help to manage enrolment pressures that are anticipated to decline over time as a neighbourhood stabilizes.   

The addition of portables to a school site can give the impression that a school is “over-capacity”, but that number is based on what is called the Ministry Rated Capacity (MRC). This is the Ministry of Education’s formula for the number of students to be accommodated within a school in permanent classrooms. While MRC utilizations may exceed 100%, schools are designed to accommodate portable use and the DDSB ensures that all Ontario Building Code requirements are followed to ensure sufficient washrooms exist in the school building to safely accommodate the number of staff and students on site. In addition, the DDSB is required to follow all Ministry class size maximums, regardless of portable use.  

Partner Schools 

Partner schools are used to accommodate students from new development areas until a new school can be built. The DDSB currently has 33 schools designated as partner schools, 27 elementary and 6 secondary, across Pickering, Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa.  

 

Every student attending a partner school will continue to be supported by a high-quality team of educators and administrators and in some cases, attending a partner school means more extracurricular opportunities and supports.

The DDSB is required by law to ensure that every student who lives in our boundary area has a place to go to school. As partner schools are temporary and used until a new school can be built in an area, there is no required consultation by the DDSB with the school community when determining which schools are most appropriate to be designated as a partner school. 

These decisions are complex and involve many different factors. However, consultation does occur with area superintendents, principals and most importantly Durham Student Transportation Services as the availability of transportation is one key element in selecting partner schools. The process to designate a partner school is different than when the permanent boundaries of a school are changed, at which time the DDSB engages in a public consultation process for the boundary review.

As per current practice, students who live more than 1.6km from the school are encouraged to utilize school buses, rather than families driving children to school. Durham Student Transportation Services will also work to ensure the safety and flow of school buses on and off site. We know that many students attending school are within the walking distance, and it is encouraged that walking takes place.

New schools are funded by the Ministry of Education and DDSB requires their approval to construct a new school. School Boards need to confirm to the Ministry that there are enough students, enrolled at DDSB to fill a new school immediately and over the longer term prior to requesting funds. All School Boards across the Province are competing for the funding available, resulting in not all projects being funded when requested. It could take years to justify and receive a capital allocation for a new school. Once an allocation is received there are Ministry approvals, municipal approvals and construction which can take an additional two to three years.

This can vary based upon the Ministry of Education review of all Capital Priorities across the Province. It could take a year or up to six years, based upon DDSB past experiences.

If there is space available for students in nearby schools, the new school could potentially not receive funding approval until it is fully utilized.

Until such time as a new school is open. If a new school cannot be justified, a boundary revision may be required to permanently accommodate the neighbourhood at an existing school.

All students who are currently attending a partner school and live within the identified growth boundary will continue to attend the same partner school until their new school is built. Their siblings will also be permitted to enroll at the same partner school as long as they remain at their current address.

School boundaries are based upon your address. If the neighbouring school is not your home school and if there is space you can request to attend as out of area, with no transportation provided.

Typically for elementary, only Grade 8 students are given the choice to graduate at their current school. New secondary schools open with students in Grade 9 – 11, so Grade 12 students would also remain at their current school. 

Unfortunately, this is not an option.

Inclusive Student Services supports are allocated equitably across the district and although the service professionals may be different from school to school the supports provided are similar. Access to services follow a student when they transition from one school to another.