Milton southwest number 3 to expand by 69 Student Spaces

By Laura Steiner, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Milton’s newest Catholic School St. Kateri Tekakwitha will be expanded by 69 new student spaces.  The announcement was made by Milton MPP Parm Gill on a Zoom call earlier today.

“This investment will provide choice and flexibility for families and new opportunities for the children,” Gill said.  The new class areas represent a $2 million investment.  Gill was joined by Education Minister Stephen Lecce, and trustees from the Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB).

The new school represents a change in how schools as part of the impact of COVID-19. “We have for some time adopted the high standards of HVAC ventilation,” Lecce said.  Any school without mechanical ventilation has a standard of a HEPA filter for every classroom, he claimed. The province has allocated over $600 million to support ventilation improvements province-wide.

HDCSB  has benefitted for approximately $7.2 million investment, and has   240 HEPA filters in place.  “This additional funding will help us address some of the ongoing enrolment pressures we continue to experience in Milton and help us meet the growing needs of the students and families we serve,” Milton Trustee Marvin Duarte said.  Duarte also serves as Board Chairman.

St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Secondary School will be located at Louis St. Laurent and Kennedy Circle East in Milton.  It will house over over 1,542 students when completed.