As the yellow school buses roll through Parry Sound’s winding roads this September, they’ll be taking students to a new educational landscape—one that continues to evolve with each passing school year.
The Near North District School Board recently confirmed what many parents and educators have been anticipating: the new school being built in Parry Sound will initially serve grades 7-12, though this configuration isn’t expected to remain permanent.
“We’re looking at this as a transitional period,” explained Craig Myles, Director of Education for the Near North District School Board, during last week’s community consultation. “The long-term vision remains focused on creating an environment that best serves our students’ developmental needs.”
The new building, rising on the former site of Parry Sound High School, represents more than $25.5 million in provincial investment. Construction crews have been steadily working since breaking ground last spring, with completion targeted for late 2025.
What caught many parents off guard wasn’t the construction timeline but rather the grade configuration announcement. Many had assumed the new school would follow a traditional secondary school model serving grades 9-12.
“I was planning my daughter’s educational path thinking she’d remain at her elementary school until grade 8,” shared Jennifer Brackley, mother of a current grade 5 student. “Now we’re adjusting to the idea that she’ll be moving to the new building for grade 7. It’s not necessarily bad—just different than what we expected.”
The decision to include grades 7-8 in the new building stems from ongoing enrollment challenges and facility management issues across the district. Current projections show approximately 650 students will attend the new school when it opens—a number that would be significantly lower without the inclusion of the intermediate grades.
Trustee John Cochrane pointed to practical realities during the board meeting. “We’re dealing with aging infrastructure across our district, fluctuating enrollment patterns, and the need to maximize our resources. This approach gives us flexibility while we work toward our long-term educational goals.”
Those long-term goals, according to board documents presented at the meeting, include eventually returning to a more traditional grade configuration once enrollment stabilizes and additional funding becomes available for facility improvements.
Tim Graves, the board’s Superintendent of Education, emphasized that while the structure may be temporary, the programming won’t be compromised. “We’re developing specialized spaces for our intermediate learners that reflect their unique developmental stage. These students won’t simply be younger versions of high schoolers—they’ll have their own identity within the building.”
The board has promised dedicated areas for grades 7-8, including separate entrances, specialized classroom clusters, and schedule adjustments to minimize interaction between the youngest and oldest students.
This approach has found support among some educators who see potential benefits in the model. Marie Blythe, who has taught intermediate grades for fifteen years, believes there could be unexpected advantages.
“Access to specialized facilities like tech shops, science labs, and arts spaces earlier can spark interest in subjects that might otherwise remain unexplored until high school,” Blythe noted after attending the information session. “The key will be implementing proper transitions and supports.”
Not everyone shares this optimism. The Parry Sound District Teachers’ Local has expressed concerns about the developmental appropriateness of placing 12-year-olds in the same building as 18-year-olds. Their spokesperson indicated they’ll be closely monitoring implementation plans.
Parents seem divided on the issue. A quick, informal poll outside Nobel Public School revealed approximately even numbers of supporters and skeptics among families with children who would be affected by the change.
“I’m worried about my son being exposed to older teen issues before he’s ready,” admitted Paul Lamont, father of a current grade 6 student. “But I also see how access to better facilities and specialized teachers might benefit him academically.”
The board appears sensitive to these concerns. During the presentation, officials outlined plans for staggered lunch periods, separate recreational areas, and careful oversight of shared spaces like libraries and gymnasiums.
“This isn’t our first experience with this model,” Superintendent Graves reminded attendees. “Several of our schools across the district already incorporate grade 7-12 configurations, and we’ve learned valuable lessons about creating appropriate boundaries while maximizing resources.”
The provincial Ministry of Education has been gradually moving away from the junior high school model (grades 7-9) that was once common across Ontario, but hasn’t established firm guidelines about grade configurations, leaving decisions largely to individual boards based on local needs.
As construction continues and planning moves forward, the board has committed to regular community updates and consultation sessions. A transition committee including parent representatives, teachers, and administrators will be established this fall to address specific concerns and develop implementation strategies.
For now, Parry Sound families are processing what these changes will mean for their children’s educational journeys. As the steel framework of the new building rises against the Georgian Bay skyline, it stands as a physical reminder that education, like the communities it serves, continues to evolve and adapt.
