If all goes according to plan, a new Burkevale Protestant Separate School will open to staff and students in a new location in Penetanguishene in September, 2027.
The Ministry of Education made the announcement of $17.1 million in funds on May 1 to build a new elementary school for 363 students.
"There was a concerted effort by everyone to get our story out there. We made sure our local MPP (Jill Dunlop) understood what our dilemma is," says Tim Overholt, the supervisory officer for the Protestant Separate School for the Town of Penetanguishene.
Success came after the fourth application for capital funds, he says.
The school built in 1965, outgrew its space years ago, the facility is showing its age and the school is the only one in the Protestant Separate School Board.
“We are very different, especially when you only have one school in the system. Other schools can move kids around and we can't," Overholt says.
"Our MPP advocated for us that ultimately gave us a little bit of a pull inside. The effort of everyone was to ensure we wouldn't stop the fight until we got it," Overholt says.
The current school was built for a 240 student capacity. It currently has 351.
THEN AND NOW
A lot has changed over the years, except capacity challenges.
The school was built, and the board established, in 1882; the same year Penetanguishene was incorporated. The 2.08 acre property was donated by the Beck family with Charles Beck serving as the Chairman of the Board until 1906. The cost of the original building was $3,500.
The original two-storey, Victorian building had four classrooms, two on each level with separate staircases for the boys and the girls. Due to growing enrolment, an addition was built in 1909/1910.
Enrolment continued to increase. Eventually the school outgrew the aging building. It was demolished and the current Burkevale Protestant Separate School was built on the same property in 1965 for approximately $174,000.
"In 1991, a four classroom portable was built to support the increase in enrolment in Burkevale," says current board chair Lynne Cousens.
"The board office was situated in the playground in one of the portables," Cousens adds.
It was relocated in 2006 and is currently at 2 Poyntz Street.
"We had to do that to allow for more space for the school. It was overcrowded even back then," Cousens says.
In 2013, the first kindergarten room was built on the west side of the school. In 2016, the portable was demolished and four new classrooms were built on the north side of the building.
NOW AND THE NEAR FUTURE
Four years ago, there were so many students at the school that the gymnasium had to be used for classes, says principal Julia McLaren. Currently, the library is on the stage.
The school added portables and is at the maximum of six for the property and the facility, McLaren says.
"There are only two toilets for 52 staff and two bathrooms for students, one for boys and one for girls." There is also a single wheelchair accessible toilet room.
"We've had to go with separate recess times because our yard is so small," she says.
For 52 staff, there is 24 parking spaces, leaving teachers carrying all their supplies from their vehicle that could be four blocks away.
Because class space is so tight, "We have teachers who have no desk space," said McLaren. The staff lounge only seats four to six people.
The interview with the MidlandToday reporter had to be done in the hallway as McLaren's and vice-principal Wilson Cowan's shared small office was being used for a meeting.
However, the staff are dedicated to their school and their students. McLaren estimates that 80 per cent of the teachers have stuck with the school for 20 years or more. Vice-Principal Cowan, for example, has been working at the school for 33 years.
“We don’t transfer to different schools. Once you are in this (one-school) board, you are in this board. That’s it. You really have to work together,” says McLaren, who likens it to a family.
Overholt says the school has the highest student population in town because of the school's good reputation for a quality education. It offers French instruction from Grades 1 to 8, music and band, sports and Christian education.
“We celebrate all the religious holidays. We start every day with O Canada and the Lord’s Prayer," says McLaren.
Community support for the school is strong as many adults in Penetanguishene are graduates.
"Our mayor was a Burkevale student. Doug Rawson is really passionate about Burkevale and a great promoter of Burkevale," says Cousens.
Cousens added that the board of trustees, three of whom are graduates, are dedicated to the school and passionate about good education.
McLaren is delighted to look ahead to the new school and said students are excited too.
"We can never host a home game because our space is too small. The kids are so excited to be able to play at their school."
