Journal staff
The new Gregory A. Hogan elementary school in Sarnia is no longer on track to open its doors to students in January.
Instead, the new opening date for the $24-million build on The Rapids Parkway has been pushed back to March 18, 2024, the St. Clair Catholic School Board announced this week.
“I know that, although the delay is relatively minor, it will nonetheless come as a bit of a disappointment, as we look forward with excitement to the opening of our new school,” superintendent of education Laura Callaghan said in a letter to the school community. “However, good things are always worth waiting for and we now eagerly await a new beginning with the arrival of Spring 2024.”
When ground broke on the new school in May 2022, it was expected to be ready for occupancy in September and cost approximately $22 million. But labour shortages and material costs pushed the price tag to $24 million and board officials announced last year that it would take until January 2024 to open.
The Board of Trustees was recently updated on the construction timeline, when officials noted a delay in the delivery of some building materials, particularly windows, according to a news release.
The new timeline includes ‘substantial completion of the building and occupancy by the board’ on January 31, followed by school setup and move-in from February 1 to March 15, and the new school opening date set at March 18.
“The licensing process for the childcare will begin at the end of March 2024 with an opening date to be announced by London Bridge Child Care at a later date,” officials added.
The new school will be French Immersion (JK – Grade 8) and contain six daycare classrooms with 88 spaces to be operated by Lambton County.