Cramahe school design approved

The Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPRDSB) announced today that it has approved the new Castleton/South Cramahe Replacement School design, and authorized administration to proceed to tender for construction.

The site was approved by the board in June, 2008 after lengthy public consultations and debate.

The project was delayed to facilitate a provincial appeal hearing initiated by some parents of South Cramahe Public School. The appeal was denied and the KPRDSB confirmed on January 30, 2009 that the project would go ahead on the Castleton Public School site.

The new school will consolidate the enrollments of the existing Castleton and South Cramahe public schools.

Michele Adams is the Principal for both affected schools. When the board confirmed in January, 2009 that it was moving forward, she commented, "While this has been a long and challenging process for both schools, a new and modern facility represents a great educational opportunity for all the students involved. I am looking forward to working with the students, staff, parents, and community members as we move forward with this project."

The process to replace the two schools began with the publication of the school board's 10 Year capital Plan for student accommodation in January 2007. In the original proposal the students from South Cramahe and Castleton were to be relocated to schools in the Municipality of Brighton.

Strong local reaction in Cramahe forced the board to reconsider its options. For much of last year a committee headed by Superintendent of Education, Sherry Summersides (now retired), studied the parameters and options available. When the committee could not reach consensus, the school board trustees voted 9-2 on June 19, 2008 to place the new school on the site of the current school in Castleton.

The earliest possible opening date for the new $4.8-million school would appear to be sometime in 2010.

More details will follow on the blog as they become available.