Combined high school project delayed until 2028, CQSB chair says
Combined high school project delayed until 2028, CQSB chair says
Peter Black, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
peterblack@qctonline.com
Central Québec School Board chair Jean Robert has confirmed the project to build a new high school most likely will be delayed by at least a year from the earlier target of September 2027.
The QCT reported in December that the Quebec government is pausing approval of new education construction projects, which could include the new English high school in Quebec City that’s been in the infrastructure planning process since 2019.
Robert told the QCT “everything is on track” for the project, despite delays. “I’ve been told it’s on the desk now of the Treasury Board. It’s gone through every single ministerial approval. We need the OK from the Treasury Board to be able to go out for tenders.”
Robert said, “We’ve spent over $20 million [on the project] so far. I can’t imagine that the government, having invested so much money, would all of a sudden say it’s a no-go.”
He said even if the board got the green light tomorrow, the school probably would not be finished until spring 2028, but it would make sense to wait until the fall term to move students into the new building.
In the meantime, Robert said the complex project is moving forward on several fronts. He said the deal to acquire a slice of land adjacent from the federal government “was signed last week.” A similar deal to exchange parcels of land with the neighbouring property of the Centre des services scolaire des Decouvreurs is in the process of being settled.
Regarding another piece of land needed for the project, owned by the Ville de Québec, Robert said the board has reached a deal with the city so that residents will be able to use school facilities such as gymnasiums and sports fields.
The new high school project involves a new building with a capacity of some 1,400 students on the site of the former St. Vincent Elementary School on Ave. Wolfe in Sainte-Foy. It would replace the two aging existing English high schools in the city, Quebec High School and St. Patrick’s High School, and the high school component of Dollard-des-Ormeaux School in Shannon.
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