June 22, 2018
Dear students/families/guardians:
Thank you for your patience as we work towards answering the many questions regarding the Stratford renovation project slated to begin in the summer of 2019. We do understand the unease you may be feeling as you contemplate the future without having all the answers. We want to arrive at the best possible options for our students’ education moving forward.
Given the complexity and time crunch with summer approaching, we are extending Phase 1 into October. This will allow us more time to consider the best possible options that we will share with students and parents for input.
Revised Timeline:
| Phase | Timeline | Description |
| Phase 1 | May – October 2018 | School-based construction concept for Stratford Central based on programming |
| Phase 2 | October 2018 – May 2019 | Transition planning to move students and program from Stratford Central for one year |
| Phase 3 | May 2019 – May 2020 | Transition plan implementation |
| Phase 4 | January 2020 – August 2020 | Transition plan to move students and program back to Stratford Central |
| Phase 5 | Sept 2020 | Re-Opening of Stratford Central |
We encourage you to continue to read the FAQs page on our website, which has a page dedicated to this project. https://yourschools.ca/stratford-public-schools.
It is there where we are providing answers as they become available. We are also using social media (Facebook and Twitter) to alert the public when we have updates.
The date and format for consultation will be provided as soon as it becomes available. The best viable options for moving forward will be shared with senior staff, trustees, staff, students, parents and the community for further refinements and consideration.
Again, thank you for your patience, understanding and continued support. We look forward to the opportunities ahead as we proceed with providing the best possible public education for students in Stratford now and long into the future.
Sincerely,
Kevin Mills & Emma Watts
Principals of Stratford Central SS & Stratford Northwestern SS
Monday, May 7, 2018
Dear Avon Maitland District School Board Families:
We are pleased to announce an upcoming renovation project at Stratford Central School. This much needed project is possible due to Ministry of Education funding of more than five million dollars. The upgrades will mean a rejuvenation of the school in Stratford’s downtown core.
The AMDSB plans to augment this funding to do additional renovations and enhance accessibility at Stratford Central and to continue ongoing improvements at Stratford Northwestern School.
This project means your child (children) will benefit from integrated programming that will lead to enhanced options in both Stratford Central and Stratford Northwestern.
Construction will begin in the early summer of 2019. There will be no changes for students in the 2018/2019 school year. However, for September 2019 all Stratford Central students and staff will attend Stratford Northwestern and possibly other alternative school locations, to be determined. We understand this will be a disruption for everyone affected. We will work together with you our valued partners in our Stratford schools to make the transition as smooth as possible. The results of this project will enhance our education system for years to come.
Consultation with both schools’ administrators and staff is already underway. Consultations with our students, families and stakeholders regarding renovations and the transition period will take place in the near future. There will be opportunities for your feedback and we will continue to update you on the progress of this project.
We thank the Ministry of Education for its financial support in helping us to revitalize public education in Stratford. We look forward to working in partnership with you to continue to provide the best and most engaging public education possible. If you have any questions, I encourage you to visit our website www.yourschools.ca where you will find more information. We have anticipated questions that you may already have. Please see our FAQs sheets and then submit any others you would like considered. We will consider all submitted questions as we work together to build our plan for the future of education at Stratford Central and Stratford Northwestern.
Sincerely,
Lisa Walsh, PhD
Director of Education