Ontario Building New School in Woodstock

Province’s investment in innovative and modern learning spaces will ensure students have high quality education in a safe and healthy environment

August 24, 2023

WOODSTOCK — As part of the province’s ongoing efforts to build and improve local schools, the Ontario government has provided the Thames Valley District School Board with approval for a scope change to the new Woodstock elementary school to create more student spaces. This is supported by an investment of $25.6 million.

Once completed, this expanded project will now deliver 856 elementary spaces and 88 licensed child care spaces for local families. The investment is part of Ontario’s commitment to providing approximately $15 billion to support school construction, repair, and renewal over 10 years. Since 2018, the government has approved nearly 200 school construction projects and the development of more than 300 child care and education building-related projects, of which more than 100 are actively under construction.

“The funding for additional student spaces at the new north Woodstock elementary school is great news for our community,” said Ernie Hardeman, MPP for Oxford. “This investment will ensure families and students have access to a quality learning environment in the years ahead.”

Additionally, Ontario is taking action to ensure that school board capital assets are used effectively and efficiently to meet the needs of growing communities, support student learning and ensure value for taxpayer dollars. The Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act will empower decision-makers to build modern schools faster by better utilizing school capacity, reducing barriers for school boards to facilitate agreements for schools in multi-use buildings such as condo towers, and shortening planning time by requiring school boards to use certain designs or plans when constructing, renovating, or making additions to schools.

“We are determined to build schools and expansions faster, part of our commitment to modernize schools in fast growing communities,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education. “We are proud to deliverthis critical expansion to the capacity of the new Woodstock elementary school for local families, along with increasing funding, staffing and tutoring to help ensure students graduate with confidence that they can succeed in good-paying careers.” 

Highlights of the project include:

• 196 additional student spaces (856 total spaces)
• 5 new child care rooms (88 new child care spaces)

“I’m thrilled that this funding will enable us to increase the size of the future Woodstock elementary school from 660 to 856 students,” said Thames Valley Director of Education Mark Fisher, “Thames Valley looks forward to enhancing our ability to support Oxford County students and families.”

The new Woodstock elementary school will be located at Block 195 Sobeski Avenue in Woodstock.