The Ontario government has given the green light to Near North District School Board approval to tender construction of a new school in North Bay.

Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli announced that the government had given the school board $20 million to build a replacement school for the former W. J. Fricker Senior Public School on Norman Avenue. The new building will consolidate W. J. Fricker Senior Public School with ET Carmichael Public School and EW Norman Public School.

“The construction of this new school is great news for our community,” said Fedeli. “This investment will provide a quality learning environment and new opportunities for the children of North Bay.”

“This is an important approval for our new Fricker school which will consolidate three schools and enhance elementary education in this section of North Bay. This school will ensure that more students in the city will experience the modern features of a contemporary elementary school,” said Jay Aspin, Chair of the Board of Trustees for Near North District School Board. “This school build has been a priority of our board since elected and we have worked diligently to make it happen.”

The new school will include: 308 student spaces for students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6, 73 new licensed childcare spaces, four new childcare rooms, and an EarlyON Child and Family Centre.

Over the next ten years, the province plans to invest about $14 billion in capital grants, including allocating $550 million in 2020-21 for new schools, additions and major renovations. The money is intended to build new schools and help existing schools catch up on maintenance backlogs.

The province is also providing school boards with $1.4 billion in funding to renew and maintain existing schools. This funding could be used to replace aging heating or air conditioning systems, repair roofs and windows, and install important accessibility features like elevators and ramps.