Parents protest as Parry Sound students face classes in construction sites

Parents and students gathered outside Parry Sound District High School on Friday, voicing frustration over the Near North District School Board’s handling of school construction delays. With both the existing high school and the new JK-12 site under construction, families say they lack clear answers about safety and logistics for the upcoming school year.

“Today we’re just trying to hype up the awareness of the Near North District School Board’s plan. We’re questioning their contingency plan,” said Shane Reynolds with the group ‘Parents for Parry Sound.’ “We’re standing in front of the existing high school, which is a third broken down right now with demolition. We have questions that are still outstanding.”

Amy Black, another parent with the group, echoed concerns over transparency.

“We band together when push comes to shove, and we are not taking a very vague media release as a satisfactory answer,” she said. “We want proof that the school is safe. We want proof that the well-being of the children is the priority. So far, we have yet to see that.”

Board releases contingency plan

Late Friday, the board published an eight-page contingency plan on its website and social media, addressing safety and operational adjustments. The document confirms that fire alarms, PA systems and security cameras remain functional at Parry Sound High School, despite partial demolition. A conference room will serve as a temporary library, while a classroom will host bagged lunches in place of a cafeteria.

In a media release, the board acknowledged the “delay and resulting confusion” but emphasized that student safety and learning continuity are “paramount.” The plan, developed with input from the Ministry of Education and community partners, remains “fluid,” with updates to be shared via email and a dedicated webpage.

Howard Wesley, the Vice Chair of the Near North District School Board, showed up to the rally to support the parents.

“I think people should know that this has been a long-term process and that our board back in last October reached out to the Ministry with our concerns about the build and about the size of the build and literally, that was not we did not get a response back from them until the minister came on site to visit with us,” he said. “At that moment, we made a decision, with the minister to carry on the build and here we are today, we’re not completed.”

Uncertain timelines and logistics

The $58.5 million school project, funded by the province in June 2023, has no confirmed completion date. The board stated it is working with contractors to finalize timelines but warned that exterior work may continue into 2026.

Temporary measures include redistributing some students to McDougall and Nobel Public Schools, which the board says have “sufficient capacity.” Transportation details are expected by Aug. 25, and remote learning has been ruled out as an option at this time.

Calls for transparency persist

Parents continue to push for in-person updates, but the board has not committed to a town hall, stating it will rely on digital communications. Reynolds and others argue more direct engagement is needed.

“We want our questions answered,” Black said. “Right now, it feels like we’re being kept in the dark.”

Black told CTV News that the contingency plan released does not address all of the safety concerns of parents

“It is currently a demolition permit, now they need it to be converted to an occupancy permit. Has the local building authority confirmed that? Have they passed all of the proper permits and building code issues? Has the asbestos been disturbed? Has that been, has been tested? Has the HVAC system and air quality been tested?” she said, looking for more answers.

The plan released advised that the toilets at the school are “flushable,” but that only led to more questions from parents.

“Does that mean the water is also potable? We don’t know,” said Black.

The Near North District School Board urges families to monitor its website for further adjustments as the school year approaches and check its new FAQ page to address common questions.