Background
In November of 2016 the Ministry of Education (EDU) provided capital funding approval to construct a new 12-Classroom addition to serve 276 students at Hodgson Middle School. The funding was to address the accommodation pressures in the area. The project was required to support the implementation of a TDSB approved plan where Grade 6 students from surrounding over-utilized junior elementary schools were moved to Hodgson MS, formerly a Grade 7 and 8 school. The current school serves approximately 600 students.
Since the approval of the original business case in November of 2016 there were numerous studies completed by both TDSB Planning and the City of Toronto, which identified that the 12-Classroom addition alone would not be sufficient to accommodate increased enrollment pressures expected in the Yonge-Eglington area.
A feasibility study undertaken by TDSB concluded that a “Hybrid Design” which preserves the historically significant 1920’s wing of the building and constructs a new 3 storey addition to replace the 1960’s portion of the building, was required to address the anticipated enrollment pressures.
A revised business case was submitted to the Ministry of Education (EDU) in September of 2019 that identified the need for a larger addition and renovation scope. The revised business case was approved by the EDU in March of 2020 that allowed TDSB to begin the design process.