Recommendation on renewal of Sudbury Secondary School

Rainbow District School Board’s Policy and Finance Committee reviewed options this evening on the renewal of Sudbury Secondary School. A recommendation and plan to proceed will be presented to the Board at its meeting on Tuesday, May 20th, 2008.

The Policy and Finance Committee is recommending that the school be reduced by 70,000 square feet (28 per cent). Essential programs in the C wing on College Street would be relocated to A and B wings. The C wing would be demolished and a parking area added.

As part of the renewal project, the Committee is also recommending that the Sheridan Auditorium be renovated, that the heating, plumbing and lighting systems in the school be upgraded, and that the exterior of the larger A wing be renewed, including new windows, to enhance the aesthetics of the building.

"Staff explored a number of options and the one being recommended is the most cost-effective," said Jean Hanson, Director of Education for Rainbow District School Board. "This option meets program needs with the least amount of disruption to the operation of the school. It also enables us to upgrade the auditorium, an important community facility, and address the lack of parking."

Under the proposed plan, the Board’s Continuing Education Centre, Media Centre, Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program and Athletic Administrator’s Offices will remain on site. Information Services staff and the Board’s computer training lab would be relocated.

Once the renewal project is complete, operating costs at Sudbury Secondary School are expected to decline by $430,000 annually. "Over a 15-year period, this amounts to approximately $8 million in savings with inflation," said Director Hanson.

Work would be phased in over the next two years. In the first phase, the C wing would be demolished in late fall 2008 and high priority renewal projects completed by the spring of 2009. In the second phase, auditorium renovations would begin in the summer of 2009 with a projected completion of spring 2010.

Sudbury Secondary School is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year with a reunion on the August long weekend. "The renewal work will be planned to not disrupt this important event," said Director Hanson. "Our goal is to ensure that the great legacy of Sudbury Secondary School continues for another 100 years."

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Media Contact:

Jean Hanson, Director of Education,
Rainbow District School Board, 705.674.3171, ext. 7215.