The Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) is in the process of selling the old Wolford Public School building in Merrickville-Wolford. The school was one of six schools in Leeds-Grenville that were slated for closure in the UCDBS’s consolidation process of 2017. Wolford Public School officially closed its doors at the end of the 2018 school year.
Senior Business Consultant for the UCDSBm Roger Richardm says there has already been significant interest in the building since it was put on the market. He says the process is similar to selling a private home, in that the buyer and UCDSB have to agree on the price and conditions for the sale to move forward. The school board does have the policy that it will not sell the property to another educational institution to eliminate the risk of losing UCDSB students.
“Every student loss means a loss in funding for the Board,” Roger says. “Not everyone might agree with that, but they want to protect the level of grants [they receive].”
According to Roger, the UCDSB is planning on revisiting the policy soon; but that doesn’t mean it’s going to change. Roger says he can’t comment on potential buyers for the building until a deal is closed and they notify the UCDSB. “Until it’s done, we don’t say anything,” he says.
What was the address of the old Wolford school? I would love to drive by the site. I attended it for a year as a child.
2159 Country Road 16 Road, Merrickville, Ontario.