Through the construction of new schools, additions and renovations of existing schools, the Halton District School Board continually works toward a goal of building modern and effective learning environments for all students and staff members.
New schools and additions are funded by the Ontario Ministry of Education based on an application from the Halton District School Board. This process begins each year with staff looking over the Board's Long Term Accommodation Plan (LTAP), an annually reviewed planning tool. It projects enrollment for our schools based on new housing, demographics and changes in program locations. It identifies new capital project initiatives for the Board in preparation for any potential updates required by the province. It also provides an opportunity to identify boundary studies and to address accommodation pressures due to new residential development, changing demographics, and program pressure.
Based on the needs outlined in the LTAP, the Board makes a new school or renovation submission to the Ministry in the summer, which is generally addressed by the fall of that same year.
Once a school construction project is approved
Once construction is approved, the Board selects an architect and begins the school design and applies for building permit and site plan approvals through the local municipality. This phase can take 8-10 months before a builder is chosen through a tender process. Construction contracts are then awarded and work begins ideally around September. An elementary school takes 10-11 months to build while a secondary school can take up to two years to construct.
The Halton District School Board currently constructs elementary schools, generally, of two and three floors with gyms, libraries, Kindergarten classrooms, parking and play areas as needed.
School Construction Projects
The Halton District School Board continuously strives to maintain and improve our school facilities to provide a learning environment that supports the well-being of students and staff and accommodates the use of schools by the greater community. The School Construction Projects page provides information on current school renewal capital projects and new construction as well as outdoor play and learning projects.