Rickson Ridge Public School is getting $5.3 million from the province for a school expansion that will create 138 new student spaces.
The funds were announced by Kitchener–Conestoga MPP Mike Harris Tuesday.
“Communities across Ontario are growing and we are working diligently to provide families and children with education options close to home, work and services,” said Harris in a news release.
“The addition of 138 new student spaces at Rickson Ridge Public School is great news for the community and educators in Guelph, and I’m pleased to hear that our government is making the area a priority.”
UGDSB made an official request to the Ministry of Education in October for a six-classroom addition to Rickson Ridge Public School. The school was built for a capacity of 490 students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8. With the six-classroom addition the non-portable capacity will be 628.
Last year there were 617 students enrolled and the school utilized six portables as a temporary accomodation.
Currently there are seven portables onsite and an eighth will be needed for the next school year even with the approval of the six-classroom addition.
The project is part of a $1.3 billion investment to support new school construction and expansions to existing schools, including child care spaces, as part of the Capital Priorities Program.
The overall investment, which is the highest ever made in a single year, supports 60 school-related projects – 39 new school builds and 21 expansions to existing schools – including child care spaces for 27 projects. This funding will add more than 27,000 new student spaces and more than 1,700 licensed child care spaces at schools across Ontario.
"We are excited to see the expansion of Rickson Ridge Public School, with the support of the province, in a growing part of the city." Ralf Mesenbrink, chair of the UGDSB, in the news release.
Rickson Ridge Public School is located at 177 Rickson Ave. in Guelph.
