New English elementary school for Vaudreuil-Soulanges students

The province has granted more than $7.7 million in funding, while the school board will finance the difference with energy grants it expects to receive by building what it says will be one of the most energy and environmentally advanced buildings in Canada, said board chairman Marcus Tabachnik.

The new school design may model Forest Hill Senior Elementary School in St. Lazare, which is also heralded as an eco-advanced school.

Though he could not say where the 450-pupil place building will eventually stand, Tabachnik noted that continued growth in St. Lazare and Vaudreuil-Dorion has lead to consistent overcrowding issues in those towns.

Demand is usually highest at schools offering French Immersion programs.

“You can draw whatever conclusions you wish,” with that information, Tabachnik said, adding that he has already advised the education ministry that he’ll “probably be back in a couple of years seeking funding for another school.”

Though the board has been in informal talks with several Vaudreuil-Soulanges towns that may seek to host the school they could not begin formal proceedings until final government approval was granted.

The dossier has been before the government for the past two years, noted Tabachnik.

And while off-island families may be happy that a new school will be built in the region, zones will inevitably be changed to include the school and children will be moved.

Rezoning could affect anyone living “west of the two bridges,” said Tabachnik.

PET governing board chairman Roch Gamache said that while he is very satisfied with the announcement, he will closely watch the board’s land selection process.

“As we’ve always stated, the location is of the utmost importance,” he said.

PET students started the school year this week in an overcrowded building. Though an estimated 467 students will attend classes this year, the French immersion school’s maximum capacity is set at 392 students.

Soulanges MP Lucie Charlebois, who attended the announcement with Vaudreuil MP Yvon Marcoux, noted that more than $23 million in government funding has been channelled into the region for new schools since 2005. Many such buildings, including Forest Hill Jr., Forest Hill Sr. and Westwood Jr., have been built for the Lester B. Pearson board.