Citizens and elected officials have been demanding it for several years: a new elementary school in the Ascot district of Sherbrooke. The project has reached an impasse as Quebec asks the city to cover cost overruns, which Sherbrooke refuses.
This future school, whose property was purchased and then donated by the city of Sherbrooke, would be located at the corner of Hallée and McDonald streets.
However, the Department of Education rejected the Sherbrooke Region School Service Center plans, which were 30% advanced. This is because the project involves cost overruns of $900,000 for the construction of a 69-meter-long access road. Quebec wants to forward the bill to the city, but Sherbrooke says it has fulfilled its part of the mandate.
“We also took the liberty of acquiring additional land to preserve a forest area and create a park, a natural environment near the school,” recalls district councilor Geneviève La Roche.
“In addition, we offer everything that belongs to the property, be it the facilities or the sidewalks,” added deputy mayor Raïs Kibonge.
In fact, the city plans to invest $4 million in the development of the sector. “Given the amount of money we have invested, it doesn’t mean that we don’t want it, but that we are stuck at this point,” explained Mr. Kibonge, who believes that the project is in jeopardy if Quebec does not extend the money .
The need for a primary school in the neighborhood is urgent. In recent years there has been a real estate boom with the development of Belvédère Square. Several young families with children have settled there. Meanwhile, several students have to attend the École Notre-Dame-du-Rosaire, which is outside the district, instead.
Faced with this impasse, the school service center says it is considering a Plan B or a Plan C, but abandoning the project is out of the question.
“Could the deadline for school opening be at risk? Yes. But I would tell you if I thought we were at an impasse. We’re not there yet. We are trying to find financing or location solutions,” explained the general director of the CSSRS, Sylvain Racette.
The new Ascot Primary School, currently called ‘D’, is expected to accommodate around 400 pupils by 2025-2026. The project is valued at $64 million.
By the end of Wednesday afternoon, the Ministry of Education had still not responded to TVA Nouvelles’ requests.