By Allison Grange

(Cornwall) – The Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) has awarded Bourgon Construction the contract to build the new 579-pupil elementary school in Cornwall that will replace the aging East Front Public School and Gladstone Public School.

The company, which was behind the successful builds of Cornwall’s Central Public School in 2006 and Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute in 2009, has already begun preparing the land to begin construction within weeks.

The new single-story, 50,667 square-foot, air-conditioned school will feature five kindergarten classrooms, 19 regular classrooms, an open, multi-function resource space with a stage, project/resource rooms adjacent to classrooms, and environmental site design focused on tree conservation. The building has been planned with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) in mind. The board’s goal is to receive a Silver LEED certification.

David McDonald, UCDSB 2^nd vice chair says he’s pleased that Bourgon, a local company, is involved in this project.

“I am looking forward to the completion of a vision for Cornwall elementary schools,” he says. “Once this school is completed, we will have four elementary schools that are dual track schools, and have a good enrolment.

“I am proud of the work the UCDSB has done in Cornwall to establish great learning environments for students.”

East Front P.S., located on Montreal Road, was originally built in 1934, with additions in 1943, 1954 and 1991; Gladstone P.S., located on McConnell Avenue, was built in 1954, with additions in 1957, 1962 and 1968.

An official sod turning ceremony for the new school will take place in June. Further details to be announced next week.