Minister announces further delay for Parry Sound school, vows oversight

The long-awaited new K-12 school for Parry Sound will not open until at least September 2026, Ontario’s education minister officially informed families this week, marking the latest setback in a troubled project that recently triggered a provincial takeover of the local school board.

The confirmation came in a letter from Minister Paul Calandra to families of the Near North District School Board, following a visit he made to the region last week.

‘Frustration and uncertainty’

In the letter, the minister acknowledged the prolonged difficulties surrounding the school’s construction.

“I know the delays in building the new K-12 school in Parry Sound have caused frustration and uncertainty for many families,” Calandra wrote.

He said that based on his visit and an assessment of the project’s progress, the school would not be ready before the fall of 2026. The minister said he has directed the board to provide detailed updates to families as work continues.

To address the delays, Calandra said the province is taking direct action.

“We will engage a project manager to oversee the remaining construction and ensure accountability every step of the way,” he wrote.

Visit follows provincial takeover

The minister’s communication follows the province’s decision to assume control of the Near North District School Board on Dec. 1. That move came after a provincial review found widespread dysfunction and a failure by the board to comply with 10 binding ministerial directions.

The review was launched after the board announced in August that the new Parry Sound school would not be ready for September, forcing some students into temporary remote learning.

In a social media post on Monday, Calandra reiterated the province’s stance.

“We will support the Near North District School Board in building strong, stable governance and delivering the high-quality learning environments that all students across the board deserve,” he said.

During his visit, Calandra said he toured the new school’s construction site and met with students and educators at the existing, partially demolished Parry Sound High School.

“I also sat down with board leadership and staff to discuss the status of the project and the next steps required,” he wrote in the letter.

In a video posted to social media on Tuesday afternoon, Calandra talked directly about his visit to the region, the challenges the board is facing and his decision to take over the school board.

Other school issues cited

The minister’s letter also addressed a separate, recent incident at White Woods Public School, which was temporarily closed after a classroom fire. He said the ministry has been in close contact with the board about the situation.

“We are reassured that the transition of students to Northern Secondary School is proceeding smoothly, with strong supports in place and a clear plan to welcome students back to White Woods after the holiday break,” Calandra wrote.

The province has stated that a permanent supervisor for the Near North board will be named soon, with the minister providing supervision in the interim.

With files from CTVNorthernOntario.ca journalist Eric Taschner

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