A secondary school in St. Thomas is closing this June due to high repair costs that are no longer manageable, with students transferring to other schools until a new one is built.
Arthur Voaden secondary school (AVSS), which has been around since 1926, will shut down at the end of the current school year. The Thames Valley District school board described it as a “difficult decision” made after thorough reviews by both the board and the Ministry of Education.
“Despite being safe for students and staff, the school would require long-term maintenance and infrastructure repairs that are cost-prohibitive and unsustainable,” the board said in a Tuesday release.
A provincial announcement on Monday included $285 million for new and expanded schools in London and surrounding areas, with $43.6 million allocated for replacing Arthur Voaden, providing space for 703 students and 88 childcare spots.
The new building will be the “first new high school” constructed by the board in over two decades, according to the release.
“While we honour the rich history and connection many have to Arthur Voaden secondary school, this announcement allows us to look ahead and create an innovative and accessible learning environment for generations of students to come,” said Bill Tucker, the board’s director of education, in the release.
Families of affected students can expect communication by early May regarding placements for September.
“School and system staff are finalizing plans to ensure a smooth transition for students and families, including planning around course selection, program offerings and extracurricular opportunities,” the release said. “Additional details will be shared with AVSS students and families in the coming weeks.”
Further information about where the new school will be located, its design, and construction timelines will be provided as it becomes available, according to the release.
“We are excited to share more about this project in the coming months,” Tucker said in the release. “In the meantime, we will continue to work diligently to share a comprehensive transition plan with families and honour Arthur Voaden’s enduring legacy with the school community.”
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