One project you won't see in the St. Clair Catholic District School Board's (SCCDSB) latest budget is upgrades at Chatham's only Catholic high school.
The school board announced on Wednesday that it had approved a $160.6 million budget for the upcoming school year.
Not included are much-needed upgrades for Ursuline College Chatham (UCC). Instead, the school board is sending an information package to the provincial government in hopes that it will cover the expenses in a future budget.
Board Chair John Van Heck explained that the building needs to be brought into the 21st century.
"I'm turning 60 years old this August, and there are major parts of that school that have been there since I went to [UCC]," he said.
The package being sent to the province focuses on a three-year plan. This would allow the government to spread costs rather than paying a single lump sum.
While the multi-year plan would cause a longer disruption, construction would be spaced out, allowing parts of the school to be open at all times.
Van Heck said the school board is prepared to do what it can to get these much-needed upgrades.
"If we don't get [approved], that's a bit of a sad thing, but we'll continue to try and come up with a case that gets us [an improved] school in Chatham," he added.
Van Heck didn't share how much the upgrades are expected to cost. Whatever the costs, he believes they are needed.
"Chatham really deserves a new catholic high school or a revamped catholic high school, and we love that site," he said.
