Community Comes Together in Vineland

The Twenty Valley area is synonymous with natural beauty. Beginning in September 2015, Twenty Valley will also be known as a place where students come together for an outstanding public education.

On Wednesday, May 14, DSBN Chair Kevin Maves announced the name of the soon-to-be-built school will be Twenty Valley Public School. Trustees of the Board approved the new name after a consultation process that involved suggestions from students, parents, staff and the community.

“Vineland Public School has served the community well for over 100 years,” said Maves. “With recent changes, however, the school community is growing and changing. Being able to build a new school will help the students, parents and staff continue to develop their shared identity in an outstanding new facility.”

In April, 2013, Trustees decided the outcome of the East and South Lincoln Elementary Accommodation Review by voting to consolidate Campden, Jordan and Maple Grove Public Schools into Vineland until a new school could be built. The new school, scheduled to be completed for September, 2015, will be able to accommodate 490 students.

In April 2014, the DSBN received confirmation that the Ministry would fund the construction of the new school. DSBN Director of Education Warren Hoshizaki thanked the government for its support, saying the new school “will be a showcase facility the community can be proud of and will also provide for more educational opportunities for students.”

“We’re very pleased to be able to proceed with this build,” said Cheryl Keddy-Scott, Trustee for Grimsby/Lincoln. “With the recent consolidation, school space is at a premium. Having a new building will allow the Board to eliminate the use of portables on-site and bring all students together under one roof. This is important symbolically as students have come together to create a single, unified school community.”

Consolidating four schools into one, new build allows the DSBN to address two critically important challenges, declining enrolment and the Board’s inventory of aging facilities. Campden and Vineland Public Schools were built in the late 1800’s, while Maple Grove and Jordan were built in the 1940’s.

Twenty Valley Public School will honour the traditions of the consolidated schools by incorporating features of historical significance into the school’s design and construction. The project is expected to go to tender in the spring, with an official groundbreaking ceremony to follow in June.