The Ontario Ministry of Education has approved the TDSB’s redevelopment plans and timeline for a new primary/secondary education complex on the Thomson-Bendale-Highbrook lands. The original David and Mary Thomson Collegiate building, originally constructed in 1959, will be demolished in 2015.
Below is the text of TDSB’s official notification letter to the community. Alternatively, read the PDF copy of the letter.
ATTENTION: Donwood Park Junior Public School; Highbrook Adult ESL Centre; David and Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute; Bendale Business and Technical Institute; Edgewood Public School
November 23, 2012
Dear Parents/Guardians, Students and Staff:
The Toronto District School Board’s (TDSB or Board) has recently been exploring options for redeveloping the Lawrence-Midland school sites to create a new JK-12 campus, which would include a revitalized/expanded elementary school,anew/expanded secondary school and an enhanced open space.
This is in response to an Accommodation Review Committee (ARC) launched in 2007 by the TDSB to examine student accommodation and program delivery at Bendale BTI, David and Mary Thomson CI,
Donwood Park JPS, Edgewood PS, and Highbrook Adult ESL Centre. In September 2008, the ARC recommended that the Board consolidate the two secondary schools into one enhanced school — bringing new possibilities for enriched programs. The ARC also recommended an expansion of Donwood Park JPS from K-6 to K-8.We are writing with some exciting news. The TDSB has been granted approval to proceed with the project by the Ministry of Education. The next step is to present the appointment of architects to the Board of Trustees in December 2012. Once the architects have been approved by the Board, we will form a Local School Community Design Team in early 2013 to help guide the detailed design of the project within the project parameters and budget approved by the Board and the Ministry.
The opening date for the new school is yet to be confirmed; however we are planning for the 2015/16 academic year. The project schedule, including the various levels of ongoing approvals from the Ministry, City and Board, will be shared with the design team. It is the TDSB’s intent to keep students in the current school buildings during construction of the new school. We will work closely with the school communities to ensure this is feasible and safe. The goal will be to move students directly from the old schools into the new facilities. More information will be available as the project moves forward.
This is great news for our community and we hope you share in our excitement. The new JK-12 campus will provide students with exceptional schools for 21st century learning and will provide the broader community with a valuable resource for years to come.
If you have additional questions at this time, please feel free to contact the Family of Schools Superintendent of Education John Chasty at john.chasty@tdsb.on.ca or 416.396.9188.
Sincerely,
Mr. John Chasty
Superintendent of Education (East Region 14)
Toronto District School BoardMr. David Smith
Trustee Ward 19
Toronto District School Board
6 comments ↓
Sad. It was built the year I was born. :o(
Thomson forever, not after 2015. LOL!
Pathetic!!! As a direct descendant of David and Mary Thomson I find this abhorrent. This land was donated to build a school and now you are going to demolish it and sell the land for commercial development? My Ancestors must be rolling in their graves. I have to wonder if they would rather have just kept the property in the family rather than have the political grabbers fighting over the prime land!!
As I understand it, the plan calls for Bendale to be demolished and the new school built behind Bendale.
The Thomson site may be sold to another school board if there is a buyer.
db
I heard there is a group fighting the sale. The Greater Bendale Advocacy Team. They are fighting to preserve the legacy of all the people who have attended, played in the fields and lived in the area. Trying to fight greedy developers and high paid TDSB clones. I bet if we sent Mr. Chasty and his boss Donna Quan 400-500 emails they would rethink their actions! Occupy Thomson! LoL
My all siblings attended Thomson school including myself. It’s a amazing school and I had a great educational experience, I personally do not support tdsb to demolish any school building. The idea of JK-12 is not really good and the outcome won’t be positive. Let the all schools stay as they’re right now. I would be so sad if Thomson building gets demolished because I’m sure lots of peoples memories are connected to the current building and they would want to see them demolished along with Thomson building. I really hope that tdsb changes its mind of building a grand school on 4 schools altogether.
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