Final phase of school renewal in Espanola underway

Rainbow District School Board is proceeding with the final phase of school renewal in the Espanola area – the removal of the former A.B. Ellis Public School.

There is now a fence surrounding the property at 128 Park Street in Espanola.

The Board’s contractor will begin the work on Wednesday, January 4, 2023.

There will be no parking on site while work is carried out.

No road closures are planned at this time.

The Ministry of Education has provided $2.7 million for this final phase, which will bring the Espanola renewal project to an end and eliminate the ongoing operating costs associated with the vacant school.

In keeping with the Espanola education plan presented to the community in 2014, the property will be reconfigured to provide much-needed parking for the revitalized Espanola High School and the new A.B. Ellis Public School which share one site across the street. This will alleviate the traffic congestion in the area. Green space will also be incorporated into the overall design.

Additional parking beyond daily needs will be available for school events, such as graduations, concerts and sports. The community will have access to the parking outside of school hours for the Recreation Complex and other nearby facilities.

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning
Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171 ext. 7217