FAQs - Limestone DSB Application and Processes

The funding application process for capital priorities is the same for all boards. Boards that are able to levy Economic Development Charges (EDCs) have the ability to purchase land from their own reserves. Limestone DSB does not levy EDCs and therefore is subject to Ministry approval for funding through the Capital Land Funding process.

A new capital submissions opportunity became available in early September with submissions due in early October. The province reviews the submissions and then allocates funding to some projects while rejecting others. We would anticipate hearing a response at some point in the winter or early spring.

The purpose in putting forward a proposed land swap is to place a school in a similar location to the existing school and reducing costs for taxpayers by removing the cost of purchasing the land. 

For Capital Land Funding to be approved, the requesting school board must demonstrate the need for the school and the purchase of land by showing the surrounding schools at their accommodation capacity. Even though Limestone DSB currently has some accommodation capacity at the surrounding schools in the west end of Kingston, it will be investigating the merits of submitting a capital land funding request for property in this area.

LDSB believes the business case for a new school build in the west end is merited with the information that was provided to the Ministry. The application will be reviewed and updated as required for the new submission. The Ministry is balancing the accommodation pressure needs across the entire province when it comes to the distribution of funds for building new schools. LDSB will continue to advocate for the approval of our business case.

Each time the Capital Funding Application has opened in the last four years, the board has applied. We have been told our application is strong, well-explained and clearly shows the need by the Ministry Capital Analyst who supported LDSB at that time. It has been said that owning shovel-ready land is an important point for a successful application. Each subsequent application has been strengthened to show advancement in the talks with the City of Kingston on the land swap.

If the new application is successful, the expectation is that the project planning and the proposed swap would move ahead as quickly as the two parties can manage. Typically, a new build takes up to three years. Ideally a potential land swap would occur in phases so the new building could be finished and then students would move from the current school into the new school. The timeline of the proposed swap and new school will be dependent upon the City meeting their requirements for the proposed swap to be finalized. 
 

This depends on changing needs and population changes. LDSB can only utilize current student numbers and short-term projections as part of a business case. Assuming the City continues to grow in population, Limestone will pursue this particular build and others. There is no limit on the number of times a project may be submitted for funding. Due to the volume of requests the Ministry receives, it is not uncommon for this process to take several attempts. It should be noted that W.J. Holsgrove is well over its capacity as witnessed by the number of portables on the site.

The most recent application included a conditional agreement of purchase and sale, as required by the Ministry of Education. This was not a final agreement but outlined a potential agreement, contingent upon the success of the funding application and approval by the Board and City Council (including the necessary community consultation) as conditions. This application with a potential land swap agreement lowers the overall taxpayer cost because it does not include a request for money to purchase land. 

The 2024-25 enrolment was 246 and the new school request is for 502 students.

Our business case for a new school can only focus on existing numbers and short-term projections (five-year enrollment forecasts).  As a result, and very frequently, schools are built and immediately are over capacity. This is not unique to Limestone and exists across the province. 

There is not a set limit, but typically elementary schools have fewer than 1000 students. Sizes of elementary schools vary significantly based on the communities they serve.

This is a possibility, but it would require more funding from the province to maintain an older building than a new one.   
 
The catchment of Holsgrove has accommodation pressure well beyond the 107 students it was originally designed for, so retaining a small school there would not be appropriate.

There are sufficient washrooms. Meeting the minimum washroom count is a requirement of the Ontario Building Code and is reviewed by the architects and the City prior to the approval of the installation of a portable.

Asbestos in buildings in Ontario is required to be managed through an Asbestos Management Plan with assessments and removals as required by legislation.

The ideal size of property for an elementary school is five acres, but site constraints may increase or decrease the size requirement.

There are significant limitations in building on the existing site, such as setback requirements for a pipeline that runs through the property. Because of this, there is not sufficient space to build a new school while maintaining the existing one until the new one is completed. Replacing the existing school might be an option but due to the limited buildable footprint of the current site, there would be significant constraints on a new building. Currently, we do not have capacity in other schools in the area to accommodate all of the students from Holsgrove while this work takes place.

Transportation and accommodation requirements are considered during any building project. This would be an option, but so would a gradual land swap that would allow students to use the current building until the new one is completed.

A number of things need to be considered by the school board and municipality as part of the process of designing, building and opening a new school. This includes but is not limited to: 

• walkability and sidewalks
• bus accommodation
• outdoor fields and play structures
• childcare, including before- and after-care

We are not aware of any historical arrangements or restrictions of this nature.

Some options could include a potential new school name and/or a plaque to ensure history is honoured. School naming decisions require broad consultation with students, families, staff, and community. Ultimately, school naming decisions rest with Trustees. That being said, under proposed legislation tabled in the spring, the provincial government may have greater influence on school naming decisions in the future.