The Lambton-Kent District School Board rubber stamped a $3.6 million renovation of Chatham-Kent Secondary School in Chatham in the fall of 2019. But then came COVID-19 and the project was mothballed.
Now, they are ready to go and there are shovels in the ground.
LKDSB Superintendent of Business Brian Mackay says they will be doing a complete makeover of the front façade of the school and cafeteria.
“We are going to be doing a bump-out of the front façade and completely changing the look of that front façade of the school,” MacKay says. “It’s going ot have that brand new architectural look and feel of a brand new school. The bump-out is also allowing us to add more space in the front of the school. In particular it’s going to be a large, open space inside and that’s where our cafeteria as well as collaborative student spaces will be.”
Another major part of the renovation is the bus lanes leading on and off of McNaughton Avenue East.
“If anyone is familiar with that front loop, we are going to be re-engineering that and have bus lane site work as part of this project, as well as a parent drop off and parking lot renovations.”
MacKay says the goal is to get as many buses as possible off McNaughton Ave to help ease traffic flow in the area before and after school.
CKSS, which was built in 1963 and last renovated in 2004, has roughly 1600 students.
The renovations are expected to be completed by February, 2022.