Maplewood Secondary School students could be in classes next week if school passes next inspection
Parents and guardians of students who were supposed to be attending a new high school in Stittsville gathered at a nearby elementary school for a public meeting on the ongoing delays keeping Maplewood Secondary School closed.
Families heard that the City of Ottawa is coming to inspect the school again on Thursday and, if it passes inspection, students should be in their new classrooms by next week.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
The high school was supposed to be open for the new school year, welcoming students in grades 7 to 9, but it didn't have the proper occupancy permits in time for Sept. 3. The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) had to go with a backup plan. Grade 7 and 8 students would be bussed to D.A. Moodie Intermediate School in Bells Corners, about 10 kilometres away from Maplewood, while Grade 9 students would be learning from home.
At the end of the first week of school, families were told Maplewood would open Sept. 17 but then, on afternoon of the 16th, they learned the school still wasn't ready. Students, who had been learning at home the Friday and Monday prior to the 17th to give teachers time to prepare their classrooms at Maplewood, were told they would continue their "asynchronous learning" for at least another week alongside.
"There’s a lot of frustration, a lot of defeat. There are children now as young as 11 years old that are being asked to learn from home. These aren’t children that all families are comfortable or should have to leave at home alone," said parent Nichole Nancekivell, whose son Ben is in Grade 9.
"I would just like to know where things went wrong, I think. There has been a lot of implications made, but I’d also like to see the board take some responsibility here as well."
The City of Ottawa said the deficiencies that have kept the school closed related to the fire and life safety systems, including sprinklers, fire alarm, emergency lighting and generator.
In a statement to CTV News Ottawa, a spokesperson for Ontario Education Minister Jill Dunlop urged the OCDSB to open the school as soon as possible.
"The delay that students, teachers and parents have experienced is unacceptable. We expect the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board to work quickly with their partners to ensure students can get back to learning in class in their new school. It is our expectation that all of the issues causing the delay have been addressed and that the upcoming occupancy inspection results in the opening of Maplewood Secondary School as quickly as possible," spokesperson Edyta McKay said.
OCDSB superintendent of education AJ Keene told the meeting Wednesday that the issues identified by the City of Ottawa on Sept. 16 have been resolved.
Parents at the meeting shared concerns about a lack of communication from the school board.
"We heard tonight that there were concerns in July. I just wish we knew in July because the fact of the matter is the first inkling we had of a concern was August 23rd, one week before school was supposed to start," parent Amber Comisso told CTV News Ottawa.
"To find out at five o'clock at night or eight o'clock at night what the plan is for tomorrow makes it virtually impossible to plan," she added.
The school board had said this week that the general contractor, Tambro Construction, had not provided the OCDSB with an updated occupancy schedule following a failed inspection on Aug. 30.
CTV News Ottawa made multiple attempts to contact Tambro Construction without success.
Maplewood Secondary School will serve approximately 800 students in grades 7 to 9 this school year, adding a grade level every year until it becomes a grades 7 to 12 school by the fall of 2027.
--With files from CTV News Ottawa's Shaun Vardon and Katelyn Wilson
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING PM Justin Trudeau to adjust cabinet roles today, as Pablo Rodriguez quits
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be making adjustments to his cabinet today, CTV News has confirmed. The small shuffle is the result of longtime cabinet minister Pablo Rodriguez quitting.
Quebec woman charged with first-degree murder in death of five-year-old boy
A 29-year-old Quebec woman is facing a first-degree murder charge in the death of a five-year-old boy southwest of Montreal.
DEVELOPING Hezbollah leader says pager attack crossed a 'red line' and vows to retaliate against Israel
Israel and Hezbollah exchanged strikes along the Israel-Lebanon border on Thursday as Hezbollah's leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed retaliation for attacks earlier this week on his group’s communication devices.
CTV News in Italy Stolen Winston Churchill 'Roaring Lion' portrait returned after ceremony in Italy
A special ceremony at the Canadian Embassy in Rome marked the successful recovery of an iconic portrait of Winston Churchill after a two-year search by Ottawa police.
Robbers crash through ceiling in brazen US$150K cash heist
Two suspects broke into a cheque-cashing business in Atlanta through the ceiling and forced an employee to open the safe, where they stole US$150K.
Huge python grabs Thai woman in her kitchen, squeezes her two hours before she can be freed
A 64-year-old woman was preparing to do her evening dishes at her home outside Bangkok when she felt a sharp pain in her thigh and looked down to see a huge python taking hold of her.
'Put them on the exhaust pipes': Alberta mayor appears to suggest killing of feral cats
The mayor of an Alberta city appeared to suggest on Tuesday that residents should use inhumane tactics to deal with feral cats.
Canada may reach 2030 emissions goal without unpopular carbon tax
Canada could meet its 2030 emissions target without a carbon tax on consumers, some analysts say, as the Liberal government faces mounting political pressure to remove it.
Video shows historic bridge in Kamloops, B.C., collapsing after fire
The Red Bridge, a historic landmark in Kamloops, B.C., was completely destroyed by fire early Thursday morning.