Province approves ‘much needed’ expansion at Shelburne’s Hyland Heights Elementary School

July 30, 2020 · 0 Comments

Written By PAULA BROWN

The Ontario government has approved a multi-million dollar expansion to Hyland Heights Elementary School, which will see an increase in student spaces at the local institution.

“The funding for this addition to the Hyland Heights is great news for Shelburne. As one of the province’s fastest growing communities, creating new spaces in our schools to meet the growing need is important,” said Sylvia Jones, MPP for Dufferin-Caledon in a press release. “This investment will provide a quality learning environment and new opportunities for students, teachers and staff at Hyland Heights.”

The Upper Grand District School Board received approval from the provincial government last Thursday (July 23) to have an expansion added to Hyland Heights Elementary School. The approval comes following an announcement by the Ontario government, that it will be investing $500 million to build 30 new schools and make upgrades to 15 existing ones.

“From modernizing our curriculum to revitalizing our classrooms and their facilities, we are investing in our students and giving them every tool to achieve their full potential,” said Education Minister Stephen Lecce. “Our financing of the addition to the Hyland Heights Elementary School further demonstrates our government’s historic investment in Ontario’s schools and our overall commitment to supporting our students and families.”

Hyland Heights Elementary is a junior kindergarten to grade 8 school, located at 200 Fourth Ave. in Shelburne. The school provides education to students from Shelburne and the surrounding rural communities of Amaranth, Riverview, Melanchthon and Corbetton.

UGDSB trustee Lynn Topping says that the school board has been asking for an approved addition for about three years.

“We could see that things were going to change population wise,” said Topping in an interview with the Free Press. “It’s really nice that it’s been accepted this year and we are very proud of that because people have done a lot of work to prove that we need this by estimating numbers for the future growth of Shelburne.”

The expansion to Hyland Heights Elementary School will look to add additional classroom spaces for the school. The expansion will add 92 new elementary student spaces to the school’s current population of 477 according to UGDSB.

“It makes it that the classes will not be as compacted as what they have been,” said Topping, adding that with the new subdivisions being built that there will be increased pressure on schools in the community.

“The announcement of funding for the addition to Hyland Heights Elementary School in Shelburne is wonderful news,” said Topping. “Thank you to the Ontario government and to MPP Sylvia Jones for recognizing the need of Shelburne and the Upper Grand District School Board, and for continuing to support the constant and consistent learning of the students in our area.”