Franco-Nord one step closer to new French high school

Conseil scolaire catholique Franco-Nord is one step closer to building its new catholic French-language secondary school in Mattawa.

Recently, it has been disclosed that The Sisters of Charity have accepted the Conseil scolaire catholique Franco-Nord proposal to purchase the old hospital site on Third Street.

In a statement issued by the Sisters of Charity in Ottawa, they said, " We studied the proposals of the three investors interested in the acquisition of the old hospital. The successful candidate, Conseil scolaire catholique Franco-Nord , answers the charisma of the Congregation, that is to say education of youth."

A resolution from the Conseil scolaire catholique Franco-Nord has authorized the administration to go ahead and purchase the land.

"The sale price of the property is yet to be determined since there are demolition costs as well as other property we must acquire," said Director of Education, Cynthia Roveda.

Other sites were also considered - The Municipality of Mattawa had proposed various sites to the consulting firm JL Richard & Associates, which was hired by the Board, in December of 2008. Two being on the South side of Hwy. 17, one of those on the other side of the railway track. The consultants from JL Richards did the analysis of a total of seven sites in the Mattawa Area (including Mattawan and Papineau Cameron) with preestablished criteria.

"The preferred site has always been the old hospital . . . As you know, École Ste-Anne has always been near the church. We thought, since we had the financing to build a French Catholic High School, it would be cost efficient and logical to build the French Catholic High School next to our existing elementary school. Students could then share many of the facilities - gym, cafeteria, specialized programs and classrooms, Actually, it has been four years that grades 7 and 8 of École Ste-Anne go to the French High School, collocated in FJ McElligott to receive their technological studies course. Furthermore, these two schools have always worked closely together to assure that our students stay in Mattawa, " said Director of Education, Cynthia Roveda.

Trustee Diane Corriveau said she too was very pleased with the choice of the location.

Mayor Dean Backer, who has expressed concerns over the project since the announcement of the French Secondary School in March of 2007, said, " Because the subject is very sensitive at the moment, I will defer my comments until I meet with the French School Board and hear from them the actual goal-intent of the property."

"The project submitted to the Ministry of education, in our Capital plan, has always been a building with two separate schools within it - the elementary section JK to grade 6 and the secondary section grade 7-12," said Roveda.

It was something Conseil scolaire catholique Franco-Nord had to consider since École Ste. Anne had been declared prohibitive to repair about three years ago. " We have been waiting for the Ministry of Education financing," she said.

Regarding the 7- 12 model planned for the secondary school, Roveda said that this is something that parents and staff have had input into since the onset and have been regularly kept informed about through public meetings as well as letters of parents and staff of École Ste-Anne and the French Catholic High School of FJ McElligott.

"Needless to say, Conseil scolaire catholique Franco-Nord has ALWAYS been dedicated and committed to the community of Mattawa and the surrounding communities. We have never threatened to pull our high school students out of Mattawa or to bus them to North Bay. Both school principals of École Ste-Anne and the French Catholic High School of FJ McElligott have worked hard to keep students in Mattawa, " said Roveda.

The five stage plan, for this project has now moved to stage two and the new French Catholic Secondary School is expected to be completed by September of 2011.