Hamilton politicians ask province to help use — not destroy — vacant Sir John A. Macdonald school

Hamilton politicians are calling on the provincial government to find a way to help use the vacant Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School site, rather than bulldoze it.

Hamilton Centre member of provincial parliament Sarah Jama, Ward 2 coun. Cameron Kroetsch and Ward 2 public school board trustee Sabreina Dahab issued a joint letter on Monday, saying the Ministry of Education needs to collaborate with the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB).

"We want to make it clear that this encampment crisis impacts students, and that solving the crisis should be a priority when the ministry makes decisions around how it funds the use of public land," read the letter.

"We do not want to see [the site] lost to the growing entertainment district or to support a condo that working people cannot afford."

The vacant school site was mentioned during the city's community meetings on its plan to deal with a growing number of encampments, leading to renewed attention on the property.

Dawn Danko, HWDSB chair, issued a statement on June 27 saying the building has been vacant since 2019 and noted there have been calls for years to turn the site into a community hub.

She said trustees approved a partnership with local organizations back in 2017 to explore the idea, but the province has denied funding to develop the site four times.

"The various proposals have included plans for a new elementary school with childcare spaces, in addition to a possible temporary homeless shelter," Danko said.

She added there were guidelines made in 2021 for Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelters to use the school, but said as of right now, the building isn't available as a temporary shelter site.

Instead, the school board is working with the province to demolish the former school.

"HWDSB remains a willing and open partner when working toward a solution to homelessness in Hamilton," Danko said.

Grace Lee, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, said the government has approved three schools and two expansions to existing infrastructure in Hamilton since Premier Doug Ford came into power.

The province said only some funding requests were approved because there was "significant" demand for school project funding.

It also pointed back at HWDSB, saying under the education act, "school boards are responsible for managing their properties and are best positioned to speak to use of school board property for pupil accommodation."