Near North District School Board

Director of Education Update Report 3:2 Consolidation

By

At the June 5, 2018 Committee of the Whole Private Session Meeting, the Board of Trustees requested that the Director of Education, Jackie Young, prepare an update report on the 3:2 Consolidation that could be shared with the community.

The information contained within this report is intended to provide parents, students and all stakeholders with an update on the 3:2 Consolidation process.

 3:2 Consolidation

The Board of Trustees, with the support of Senior Administration, will proceed with the 3:2 Consolidation identified in the Board Resolution Number: 17-09-12, as soon as is practicable. The next major milestone for the project will be the submission of a business case to the Ministry of Education to obtain the funding to complete capital and infrastructure projects, purchase equipment and address programming and student transition requirements.  While the funding timelines, eligibility requirements and process has not been identified by the Ministry of Education, Senior Administration with the support of the Board of Trustees, have proceeded with the preparation of a preliminary business case to ensure that the Board is able to capitalize and move quickly when funding opportunities are announced.

Meanwhile, logistics with scheduling and programming requirements are being considered on a regular basis by the Board, Senior Administration, school administration and staff.  While the project costs and timelines are all contingent on funding, all efforts are being made to ensure that the 3:2 Consolidation proceed in a fiscally responsible manner that focuses on the needs and comfort of our students.

As with any capital project contingent on ministry funding, there is the possibility that the funding will be less than anticipated and/or unavailable.  While neither of these scenarios are anticipated, should either one occur, discussion would ensure with the Board of Trustees with respect to options and next steps.

 Programming Costs and Budgetary Implications

The Board of Trustees and our Senior Administration understand that there is a desire for firm numbers, costing details and specifics regarding the consolidation and specifically school transitions.  However as noted, that information has been prepared in a preliminary format only.  To release cost estimates at this stage would be irresponsible and could expose the Board and this project to unnecessary risk and exposure.

As with all capital projects, the final cost and expenditures will depend on the guidelines, templates, timelines and funding as determined by the Ministry of Education.

 Ongoing Communication

The Board and Senior Administration will continue to communicate with students, staff, and stakeholders through a variety of mechanisms including the Board website, school visits, face to face meetings and periodic updates when more information becomes available.

In order to address the concerns voiced by the community and to ensure a means of providing timely, accurate and updated information, the Board has designed a page on our website.  The information is accessible via Quick links on the Home Page and also under the Capital Planning page.  Moving forward we will be preparing a timeline of events to share.  The Board has also hired a new Information and Communications Officer, Mairghread Knought, who will be the communication point person on the 3:2 Consolidation.

 Project Timeline

There has been no change to the identified timeline and the Board and Senior Administration are moving forward in that respect.  However; should the timelines set by the Ministry with respect to funding opportunities impact our ability to meet the set completion date, the Board would need to explore the impact on students and adjust timelines accordingly.  The Widdifield Students will not be moved if the buildings are not appropriately ready to accept them.

UPDATE:  The Near North District School Board has confirmed that the proposed timeframe for the closure of Widdifield Secondary School and relocation of those students to Chippewa Secondary School and West Ferris Secondary School will be delayed.  It is anticipated that the closure will be delayed by a minimum of one year.

 Student Engagement and Rebranding

The Director of Education has begun a series of meetings with our secondary school students to discuss the 3:2 Consolidation to obtain feedback with respect to their concerns, thoughts and recommendations as the process moves forward.

Senior Administration is committed to working with students as the drivers behind what they need and want rebranding (then staff and parents, in that order). The intention is to hear from all students and then design a survey available to all students/staff for their input.  The data collected will be shared with parents through SAC.

The Near North District School Board is committed to ensuring that our students continue to receive the same high-quality education and support they have come to expect from us.

Jackie Young
Director of Education

Fore more information please contact:

Mairghread Knought
Information/Communication Officer
Near North District School Board
(705) 472-8170, extension 5010
Mairghread.Knought@nearnorthschools.ca

3:2 Consolidation Frequently Asked Questions

By

The Near North District School Board understands that our students, parents and stakeholders have questions with respect to the 3:2 Consolidation and the upcoming school year.   The Frequently Asked Questions have been developed as a way for you to obtain accurate and current information.  As new information and questions come forward this section will be updated.

Close up of lockers

Feedback and Information

School Zone and Required Attendance

Re-Branding and School Identity

Transportation and Busing for New Schools

Highlanders on Top at OFSAA

By

Almaguin Highlands Secondary School Students had a great weekend at OFSAA beating previous personal bests.

Aidan Anger finished 4th in the Senior Boys Pole vault amongst a very tight field of over 20 athletes from across the province.  Anger, from Burks Falls, beat his own personal and school record in the highly technical vault event with a final jump of 4.30 meters. He has come a long way since his OFSAA performance last year where he placed fifth with a result of 3.95 meters.

The charismatic senior student graduates this year and has an exciting athletic and academic career ahead of him. This summer, he will be competing at the Junior/Senior nationals in Ottawa. He will then be attending the University of Guelph in the fall, where he plans to study Business Marketing and Management. He continues to compete in the Pole Vault event as a member of the university’s varsity squad.

Clarista Ardiel, a multi sport athlete who runs multiple distances, was 3rd in the Girls 100-meter Intellectual final on Friday with a time of 14.99 seconds. On Saturday, she dominated in the 800 finished ten seconds ahead of the second-best competitor with a time of 2.55.12 minutes.

Hudson Booth, also a multi sport athlete, was 2nd for the Boys 100-meter Ambulatory Race race with a time of 13.51 seconds. He finished fourth in Saturday’s 800-meter Ambulatory run with a time of 2.29.95 minutes and competed in the Shot-Put event. Hudson is in his final year of high school and will be competing at the Cerebral Palsy World Track and Field Games in Spain this summer.

Long time coach and teacher Bob Hildebrandt, along with other Almaguin coaches, have been very successful this year, sending multiple athletes to OFSAA for Track and Field despite being a small rural school. The coaches also been instrumental in developing Almaguin’s special Olympic athletes who also competed at OFSAA this weekend.

For more information please contact:

Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick, B.Sc., OCT, NCCP
Occasional Teacher, P/J/I/S
Trojans Coach
Kaitlyn.Fitzpatrick@Nearnorthschools.ca

Testing Page

By

SEAC Minutes and Agendas

By

  SEAC Agendas SEAC Meeting Minutes Agenda October 19 2017 Agenda September 21 2017 Agenda June 15 2017 Agenda May 18 2017 Agenda April 20 2017 Agenda March 16 2017 Agenda February 16 2017 Agenda January 19 2017 Agenda December 15 2016 Agenda November 17 2016 Agenda October 20 2016 Agenda September 15 2016 Meeting […]

Child Care Addition at Woodland – North Bay

By

Construction of an addition for a child care facility at the new Woodland Public School began on October 16, 2017.  Working with the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (DNSSAB) and the YMCA of Northeastern Ontario, the future Woodland Early Learning and Child Care Centre will provide high quality child care for the Woodland Public School community from infancy to 12 years.

In addition to the current Before and After School Program, four, full day, early learning child care classrooms will be built with 1 infant room, 1 toddler room and 2 preschool rooms. The new facility will include an enclosed entrance and exterior play space.

Exterior work has commenced with the creation of the additional parking lot at the bus loop entrance.  Construction will continue throughout the school year with an anticipated completion date of Fall 2018.

 *The Board graciously acknowledges the financial support the Government of Ontario has committed to the Board's capital projects.

Early Years and Family Services Centre at Land of Lakes – Burk’s Falls

By

Working in partnership with the Parry Sound District Social Services Administration Board (DSSAB), the Board looks forward to creating a new EarlyON Child and Family Centre for children and families in the Almaguin Highlands area.

The project is moving along well.  Exterior design will be the final phase of the project and will involve the reconfiguration of the parking areas and a possible new bus loop/roadway with planned construction for early July 2018.

Secondary School Consolidation – North Bay

By

On September 26, 2017, Trustees approved the consolidation of three North Bay secondary schools (Chippewa, West Ferris and Widdifield) into two schools with the rebranding of the West Ferris (South) and Chippewa (North) sites. Since that time staff in all three schools have collaborated to discuss how best to use this opportunity to enhance student program options.

There is much transition planning ahead which will take some time to complete. In the interim, the Board is pleased to share its transition programming framework. The planning of transition activities will involve student, parent and staff voice.

To relieve current accommodation pressures at Chippewa and in order to prepare instructional space required for the 2019 transition, the following programs will transition in September 2018:
• Current Grade 6 Sunset Park French Immersion students
• Current Grade 6 W.J. Fricker Extended French students
• Current 7-11 Chippewa Extended French students
• Current 7-11 Chippewa French Immersion students (zoned for Sunset Park).

The following programs will be fully implemented in September of 2019:

SOUTH SITE (CURRENTLY WEST FERRIS):

Arts Nipissing Program / S.T.E.A.M. Program (Grades 9-12)
French Immersion Program (Grades 7-12 zoned for Sunset Park)
Extended French Program (All North Bay area Grades 7-12)
English Program (Grades 7-12 zoned for West Ferris).

NORTH SITE (CURRENTLY CHIPPEWA):

International Baccalaureate Program (Grades 9-12)
French Immersion Program (Grades 7-12 zoned for Alliance)
English Program (Grades 7-12 zoned for Widdifield and Chippewa)
W.J. Fricker English Program (Grades 7-8).

*Widdifield Secondary School will close in September 2019.

Special Education Programs - As we look ahead now to transitions beginning in the 2019-2020 school year, we are committed to ensuring parents are kept apprised of decisions impacting their children and young adults attending school in one of our system special education programs.  We hope that the information below will help to ease any possible concerns:

  • There are no proposed changes to our current model for Special Education Programs in 2018- 2019 for Chippewa, Widdifield and West Ferris;
  • There will be no reduction in the number of special education programs for the 2019-2020 school year coming through the transition;
  • It is proposed that there will be 4 programs at the north site and 4 programs at the south site beginning in the 2019-2020 school year (this includes one Intermediate and 3 Senior classes at each site); and.
  • There will be clear and comprehensive pathways established that support student need, and allow for enhanced opportunities for collaboration and flexibility within this model.

The Board remains committed to providing parents, students, staff and communities with relevant and timely communication. The Board thanks its stakeholders in advance for their patience to allow for the time required to develop a thoughtful and purposeful transition plan.

New JK-12 Parry Sound school

By

On Jan. 14, 2026, Paul Calandra, Minister of Education, in his capacity having control and charge over the administration of the affairs of the Near North District School Board (“NNDSB”) has directed the termination of the NNDSB’s contract with the general contractor for the new Parry Sound JK–12 School and Child Care Facility.

This decision followed an extensive period of review and engagement, including formal notices of default and opportunity for the contractor to resolve the outstanding concerns of NNDSB.

The notice of termination delivered earlier this morning referenced concerns with respect to:

  • The absence of a reliable and regularly updated construction schedule
  • The performance of work in accordance with the contract documents
  • The prompt correction of defective work and deficiencies
  • The registration of numerous construction liens against the project

After careful consideration, NNDSB has determined that continuing under the existing arrangement would place the project’s successful completion and timeline at risk.

As of today, NNDSB has regained full control of the project and is taking the necessary steps to ensure it is completed to the standard our community expects and deserves. This action was taken as a last resort and reflects the board’s responsibility to intervene when a major capital project is no longer on a reliable path forward.

NNDSB remains fully committed to delivering this state-of-the-art school safely and on target for opening in September 2026. We will secure a new general contractor and maintain close oversight of the project to support a smooth transition and minimize disruption.

Our focus is firmly on students and families, and on ensuring public resources are managed responsibly and in the best interests of the community.

Next Steps:

  • Current site safety protocols remain in place under NNDSB control.
  • Updates will follow as we transition to a new construction team.

Thank you for your patience and continued support. Our priority remains delivering a safe, modern learning environment where Parry Sound students can learn and thrive.

                                                                                                                                                                                 

 On December 1, 2025 the Minister of Education placed the Near North District School Board under supervision. While under supervision, all decisions that would normally be made by trustees will now be made by the appointed Supervisor.
Project updates will be made available as soon as possible.

It has now been confirmed that the new facility will not be ready for occupancy by the first day of school in September 2025. While this is not the outcome we expected, the Senior Team and board staff are actively developing contingency plans to ensure that all students have access to appropriate learning environments when the school year begins.
JK- Grade 6 students who were set to attend McDougall Public School in September will attend that school location as originally planned. Students in Grades 9 - 12 will begin the school year remotely, with a goal to move into the current Parry Sound High School building as soon as possible. All Grades 7 - 8 students will attend the Nobel Public School site.  
NNDSB has implemented a comprehensive communication strategy to inform the public, NNDSB families, staff, union partners, and community stakeholders of this delay. Updates will be shared through SchoolMessenger, NNDSB Facebook, and on this webpage to ensure transparency and timely information sharing.
In parallel, we are continuing to work through key operational aspects of the contingency plan, including staffing, transportation, and student supports. We recognize the impact this delay may have on families and are committed to doing everything possible to support students through this transition.
At this time, a timeline for completion of the new build and subsequent transition of the staff and students to the new JK-12 school has not been identified. NNDSB will continue to monitor progress closely and provide regular updates as more information becomes available.

new JK-12 Parry Sound school Updates

Additional Information

We’ve received input from the community indicating a need for greater clarity. In response, we have removed the FAQ section, housing the rest of the relevant information in the updated contingency plan, and providing supplemental information in the New JK-12 Parry Sound school section of our website.

Plan to Accommodate Students:

The plan is for students who were originally to attend JK–Grade 6 at McDougall Public School to remain at that school. All Grade 7–8 students will attend Nobel Public School.

Students in Grades 9–12 will move to remote learning to start the school year, until the existing Parry Sound High School building is ready to accommodate staff and students. This is a short-term solution until staff and students can be safely accommodated at PSHS. A remote learning plan has been established by our IT and Program teams to make sure that staff, students, and families can smoothly adjust to remote learning. A technology request form was sent to families of Grade 9-12 students in the current PSHS building on Aug. 25 to inventory and prepare devices.

Here is a link to the full contingency plan.

Programming and Preparation of Buildings:

Both McDougall and Nobel schools have been functioning as elementary schools as of June 2025. They received minor updates and accommodations to ensure that the rooms, furniture, and resources are appropriate for the programs and students they will be receiving on Sept. 2.

Transportation:

Students attending Nobel Public School for Grades 7-8 (all students who would have been attending the new Parry Sound High School site) have been added to transportation routes. For students attending McDougall Public School for grades JK to 6, all in-zone students are considered eligible and have been added to transportation. For Grades 9-12 students, when Parry Sound High School is ready to accommodate staff and students, there is no change with respect to eligibility for transportation. The transportation consortium has shared an updated memo with more details here.

PSHS Student Recreational and Social Spaces:

Supervision is already set up for the lunchroom and mini-library during the lunch hours.  Students will be permitted to eat lunch in the school hallways as is common practice in secondary schools around the province. The supervision schedule has already been adjusted to add hallway supervision during the lunch break.

Secondary students are not required to remain on campus during the lunch hour.  Some students may choose to leave campus to buy food at local establishments or go for walks around the neighbourhood. Picnic tables will also be added to the fenced outside area previously used for the intermediate play yard.  Students will have access to this safe outdoor area during the lunch break.

During the school day, students can also use the space in Rooms 272 and 270 for quiet study as they did in the former cafeteria/library combination area.

Updates related to Building Structure, Asbestos Abatement, and Occupancy

As part of the contingency planning for the new JK-12 build, the demolition of the existing Parry Sound High School (PSHS) was broken into two phases. To facilitate the construction of the temporary parking lots, bus loop and fire emergency routing for the new JK-12 school, the one-storey section of PSHS was removed as phase one. Asbestos abatement was completed only in the area subject to demolition, and demolition of that section was completed in a controlled manner to maintain the functionality of the remaining portion of PSHS. This replicated the process completed in Fall of 2021 when a portion of PSHS was demolished to prepare for construction while students and staff continued to attend the school.

Following the phase one demolition, NNDSB received a structural report from a Licensed Professional Engineer. The report states that the remaining structure has not been compromised and remains safe for student occupancy. There are a small number of items to be completed so that the existing PSHS will be ready to receive staff and students. NNDSB is making every effort to work with the Town of Parry Sound Building Department and Fire Department to address these items, as well as any new concerns they may raise. These items can be found in the Additional Information Item for Families document, which is posted here.

Contact information:

McDougall Public School: Brigid Wright, 705 -773-7971

Nobel School: Laurie Payne, 705-773-7988

Parry Sound High School: Heather Howald, 705-773-7979

 

All of the information that has been collected from stakeholder groups, including teaching and operational staff, students and First Nations representatives, remains relevant as Near North District School Board (NNDSB) moves ahead in its work to build a new JK-12 school in Parry Sound.

It was announced in February 2021 that the Ventin Group (+VG Architects) was awarded the contract to design a school that seamlessly transitions area children from daycare through to secondary school in a building that is modern and reflects the needs of 21st century education.

The school will include a childcare centre and an EarlyON Child and Family Centre.

There is a program sub-committee and a building sub-committee, both of which will make regular progress reports to the Parry Sound JK-12 Build Committee. That committee will make regular reports to the Board, which will be available in the agenda packages and in the links to the right. Topics of high interest will be issued as media releases, which are available in the links to the right.

New Parry Sound School aerial view rendering

New Parry Sound School front entrance rendering

Biindigen

Mii gwi Anishinabek wewena nkenmaaminak dependajig maa kiing.
"We acknowledge in a good way, the original people of the land here"
We value the cultures, histories and relationships with the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (North America)

Connect With Us

Near North District School Board
963 Airport Road, P.O. Box 3110, North Bay, ON P1B 8H1
[P] 705-472-8170   [TF] 1-800-278-4922   [F] 705-472-9927