Hamilton trustees put four public schools up for sale

The opening of three new Hamilton public elementary schools is seeing four others go up for sale.

Following a brief private session, trustees voted on Dec. 7 to declare Beverly Central, Dr. John Seaton, Queen's Rangers and Spencer Valley surplus to the school board's needs, initiating Phase 1 of their property disposition process.

This gives a lengthy list of preferred public agencies, including the city and other school boards, 90 days to express interest in buying one or more of the schools, and another 90 days to submit an acceptable offer.

If no one does, they can then be offered for sale on the open market. In either case, Ministry of Education regulations require the board to sell the schools for no less than their fair market value.

Flamborough's Beverly Central and Dr. John Seaton closed in June, with their students now attending the new Rockton Elementary School, opened in September.

Queen's Rangers has been serving as a holding school for Ancaster's new Spring Valley Elementary School, set to open Jan. 4 on the former C.H. Bray school property.

Spencer Valley has similarly served as a holding school during construction of the rebuilt Greensville Elementary School, also set to open Jan. 4.

Stoney Creek's new South Meadow Elementary School, built on the rear field of Memorial school, is also scheduled to open on Jan. 4.

Mountain View and Memorial will close, with the latter to be demolished to provide play space for South Meadow. Mountain View is expected to be declared surplus.

Proceeds from the sale of the schools must be used to repair and upgrade existing schools unless the ministry grants permission for other purposes.