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  #1  
Old Posted May 18, 2010, 11:21 AM
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Pan Am precinct

International college to focus on arts and football

May 18, 2010
Danielle Wong
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/771259

A new international college focusing on the arts and integrating students into the local community will open in Hamilton this fall.

The National Art College of Canada (NACC) was authorized by the province last month to offer credit courses to about 100 Grade 11 and 12 students -- mainly from China -- in September.

Businessman Edward Gong bought the former Scott Park high school in 2007. Since then, Gong has invested $1 million, turning the 180,000-square-foot building into an international private school.

The school's principal, Mark Spinelli, said the college will set itself apart from other private colleges such as Columbia International College by engaging foreign students with Hamilton.

The school is hoping an American-style football program will also bring in students from the Hamilton, Toronto and Niagara areas to create stronger "eastern-western" bonds.

"Often times ... Chinese students hang out with Chinese students, white students hang out with white students," Spinelli said. "By having a greater mix aspect in terms of the classes, it will allow for more communication and I think that's very important."

While people in China know about McMaster University, not many have heard of Hamilton, Gong said in Mandarin.

"We feel like we have the responsibility to promote Hamilton to the world," said Gong, who is from eastern China.

Gong's plan is to work backwards, eventually offering Grade 9 and 10 courses as well and enrolling 1,000 students in three to five years.

The NACC started offering Grade 11 and 12 courses to 10 students from China in February.

The building on King Street East west of Gage Avenue North can hold 3,000 students. Renovations for the 100 classrooms, gym, 800-seat theatre and three floors are complete. The building has five floors and renovations will be made in stages as enrolment goes up.

But many aspects of NACC are still under construction.

The school is still in the middle of negotiations for a nearby residence building. NACC's website indicates students will pay a $500 per month residence fee.

Several pages on the school's website are also "under construction," including information pages for the calendar, computer lab and gymnasium.

While Gong and his team are looking to promote Hamilton, the NACC website features photos of the CN Tower and Niagara Falls.

The college will offer courses in partnership with the Royal Conservatory of Music, Gong said, adding it is looking to offer courses in drama, dance and animation as staff come on board.

Peter Zonta, who is heading up the football program, says he is in the process of recruiting 40 players. "It may be a rough first year, but I know we'll get through it. My goal is that this will be the Number One football school in Canada."

Tuition for international students is $15,000 to $18,500. This doesn't include fees for residence, monthly meal plans or health insurance.

There are currently 430 private secondary schools in the province, Ministry of Education spokesperson Gary Wheeler said.

The ministry will inspect the NACC every other year, but is only responsible for ensuring the curriculum is up to par.

Private schools are considered private businesses and oversee their own staffing, health and safety and finances.
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  #2  
Old Posted Oct 18, 2010, 10:33 PM
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National Art College of Canada

Just noticed today that the sign is up for the National Art College of Canada...
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  #3  
Old Posted Oct 19, 2010, 6:10 PM
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I find this strange -- the dual focus on art and football. When I was in art school, there weren't many students very interested in sports.
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Old Posted May 18, 2011, 8:44 PM
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Old Posted May 19, 2011, 1:13 PM
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Awesome job referring to them as "The Wrecking Crew," Spectator. Give them a cool sounding nickname, that'll be sure to prevent similar things.
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Old Posted May 20, 2011, 1:13 PM
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Don't quote me on this but I was watching 'For the record" last night and I believe Bernie Morelli said that they are in 'receivership'.

Cheers,
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  #7  
Old Posted Jun 1, 2011, 1:42 PM
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An update from Molly Hayes in today's Spectator:

"The youths, who were caught May 17, left fire hoses running in the school. The water damage spans all five floors. The escalators and elevators are shot and the ceiling in the front entrance has collapsed from the water. In addition to graffiti, paint was thrown on the walls. All the mirrors were smashed in a ballet studio. In the library, boxes of books were dumped in the middle of the room, many of the bookshelves broken right off the wall. A huge window in the third floor cafeteria was smashed — so were most of the glass panes on classroom doors.

A message scrawled on a classroom chalk board summed up their intentions pretty well: 'F- — — SH — — UP.'

Darren Weeks, the mortgage holder on the property, intends to launch a civil action under the Parental Responsibilities Act. Under the Act, he said, each set of parents can be held liable for up to $25,000 of damage done by their underage children.

The school technically still belongs to the National Art College of Canada, but a 'power of sale' has given Weeks full rights and responsibilities to sell it.

Maga, a self-employed developer, still wants it — despite the vandalism and a lack of insurance.

Because of extensive asbestos problems, Weeks said the insurance company refused to sign back on to insure the school after he took over. But even if he’d had insurance, he said it’s next to impossible to get reimbursed for vandalism in a vacant building.

Maga was hoping to start a community centre on the ground floor, with spaces for rent on the other four floors. Now, the whole building needs to be renovated, regardless of what he does with it."
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Old Posted Jun 1, 2011, 2:02 PM
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Too bad they're patching up Ivor Wynn for the Whiney-Cats!
There could have been a real change in Youth development in this neighbourhood had a Rec/Seniors Ctr along w/ Mix-Housing/Retail opened up on this site rather than a patched up stadium.

Imagine.. giving Youth an alternative to boredom (It seems to have worked for St Jamestown, Toronto since that hood got it's own Rec Ctr back in the Mid-2000s).
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  #9  
Old Posted Jan 11, 2012, 5:29 PM
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Former Scott Park School is back on the market. The selling price is a little higher this time -- $8.8 million.

From the listing:
Quote:
Large vacant 5 story building with approximately 180,000 square feet, zoning to be verified,
potential condo conversion. Previous use as Scott Park School. Great potential for builder/
developer. Across Ivor Wynne and Pan-Am Games $ 150,000,000.00 new stadium to be completed
2014. Seller is selling with as-is where is condition. Buyer is to complete their own due diligence.
Do not miss this chance to steal this building at a fraction of it's rebuild cost of $90,000,000.
Looks like the Tiger Cats don't have the monopoly on hyperbole after all.
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  #10  
Old Posted Feb 12, 2013, 2:44 PM
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I guess this can go here....

Hamilton board plans east-end school and recreation complex
Trustees approve $100m in new schools and renovations

By Samantha Craggs, CBC News
Posted: Feb 12, 2013 7:13 AM ET
Last Updated: Feb 12, 2013 7:12 AM ET
http://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/news/stor...l-funding.html

Hamilton's public school board wants to partner with the city to build a new complex with a high school and recreation centre in the city's PanAm precinct.

Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) trustees voted Monday to send a letter to council asking to join in a “civic/recreational/educational project.” The project would be located between Lottridge, Barton, King and Gage streets.

The idea is a complex that includes a new high school, which would open in September 2016, and other recreational amenities, said board chair Tim Simmons.

“The community, especially from the accommodation reviews, said they want something more than a high school in that area,” he said. “Certainly the recreational services in that area haven't been upgraded in many, many years.”

If the joint project went ahead, the board would need an agreement in place by March 27. The province has given the board $41 million for school projects, including a new $34,365,000 lower city high school, but the board has a deadline for spending it.

If an agreement doesn't happen by that date, the board has to move on, Simmons said.

“We have to get our build done on time.”

The board is looking at locations for the complex, but hasn't selected one, Simmons said.

The decision was part of a larger capital plan approved Monday that includes $100 million in new builds and renovations. The board plans to build a new school on the Mountain and add to Saltfleet Secondary. It will also renovate Highland Secondary in Dundas to accommodate students from Parkside, which is scheduled to close, and renovate George R. Allan and Dalewood elementary schools in the west end.

Selling land to fund the schools

Trustees voted to sell off $63 million in vacant and excess land to make up the funding shortfall. If all goes according to plan, it will have $12 million left over, said Daniel Del Bianco, HWDSB senior facilities officer.

The amount is still only an estimate, but once the board factors in the land occupied by the schools it will soon close, it should be enough to make up the difference, Del Bianco said.

The breakdown of projects is as follows:

$34,365,000 to build a new lower city school to be completed by August 2016. This school will serve students from Sir John A. Macdonald, Delta and Parkview schools, which are scheduled to close.
$27,384,000 to build a build Mountain high school to be completed August 2016. This school will serve students from Barton, Hill Park and Mountain schools, which are scheduled to close.
$15 million to renovate Highland Secondary in Dundas to accommodate students of Parkside, which is scheduled to close. This work will be completed by fall 2015.
A new $5.4-million addition to Saltfleet Secondary scheduled for fall 2014.
$10,263,600 in renovations to Dalewood (completed by fall 2015) and $8,471,000 to George R. Allan (completed by September 2014). These renovations will help the schools absorb students from Prince Philip, which is scheduled to close.

Some trustees wanted staff to take another look at the plan. Flamborough trustee Karen Turkstra questioned why Highland was only getting $15 million in renovations while George R. Allan and Dalewood were getting a combined $19 million. It seems like it would be cheaper to build new elementary schools in their place, she said.

“It makes no fiscal sense for this board,” she said.

Majority of Highland cost is 'legacy costs'


A large portion of renovations to George R. Allan and Dalewood are “legacy costs” — items such as windows, boilers and roof repairs, Del Bianco said.

That's the case with Highland too. Of the $15 million in renovations, $10 million are legacy items. The other $5 million will be for another gymnasium, new science labs and an expanded cafeteria.

Trustee Jessica Brennan, who represents Dundas, had a problem with that.

Trustees voted for Highland to get a minimum of $15 million in renovations, she said. And the board went with the lowest number.

“It's remarkable,” she said of the plan. “It's exactly $15 million.”
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  #11  
Old Posted Feb 27, 2013, 6:00 PM
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  #12  
Old Posted Feb 27, 2013, 6:00 PM
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This joint initiative by HWDSB and the City of Hamilton would be an excellent opportunity to co-locate a secondary school, seniors' complex, revitalized swimming pool, ancillary parking and green space on the site.

We are pleased to let you know that HWDSB recently received $31.8 million in capital funding to construct a new secondary school and must now move forward with plans to open the new school by September 2016. We are asking for Hamilton City Council's support for this joint initiative. We would ask that City staff be directed to begin immediate negotiations with HWDSB on a binding Memorandum of Agreement, which must be completed by March 27, 2013.
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Old Posted Feb 27, 2013, 6:16 PM
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Does that mean Scott Park is now the proposed site of the future mega school that will replace all the downtown secondary schools?
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  #14  
Old Posted Feb 27, 2013, 7:03 PM
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Well rumour has it that the City may have to expropriate the former Scott Park High School building.
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Old Posted Apr 16, 2013, 3:56 PM
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City of Hamilton and school board close to deal for Pan Am precinct complex

By Samantha Craggs, CBC News
Posted: Apr 16, 2013 8:16 AM ET
http://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/news/stor...d-complex.html

The city and the public school board are close to reaching a formal agreement for a joint high school and recreation project in the Pan Am precinct.

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board and city staff are close to putting pen to paper to formalize the project, said Daniel Del Bianco, the board's senior facilities officer. The city has already written a letter in support.

“We have to move forward with the project sooner rather than later, so I'm hoping before too long we'll have a signed and executed agreement,” Del Bianco said.

The new joint complex would include a high school for 1,250 students, which the board must open by September 2016 to comply with its provincial funding requirements for $31.8 million. The school will replace Delta, Sir John A. Macdonald and Parkview schools, which are scheduled to close. The city hopes its portion would include some sort of recreation facility for seniors.

The project will be located between Lottridge, Barton, King and Gage streets.

The board has hired MHPM Project Managers for the high school. It will issue a request for proposal for prime consultants by late May 2013, Del Bianco said.

It hasn't finalized a location yet, and is still looking at several sites, he added.

The city is eager to see the project move forward, said Coun. Bernie Morelli of Ward 3 last week. It is prepared to spend $15 million gathered through various sources on the project, which would “respond to the needs of that community,” he said.
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Old Posted Apr 16, 2013, 4:15 PM
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Oh yeah. Put a seniors complex beside a high school. That's going to go swimmingly.
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  #17  
Old Posted Apr 17, 2013, 12:44 AM
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This stadium precinct in gonna be hopping, man! High school kids, the elderly and infirm, ummmm, other stuff probably too...

This is what happens when the Province, the City, the Board and the Kitty Cats put their heads together. Pure genius.
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Old Posted Apr 30, 2013, 12:26 AM
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And it's official the school board will expropriate the former Scott Park high school for a new high school.
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Old Posted Apr 30, 2013, 12:50 AM
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Hamilton school board aims to expropriate Scott Park
Land will be used for a new recreation centre and $31-million high school

http://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/news/stor...cott-park.html

Hamilton's public school board wants to expropriate land near the former Ivor Wynne stadium to build a new high school for 1,250 students.

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board is looking to expropriate Scott Park, a one-time school site located at Cannon Street East and Melrose Avenue North in the Pan Am precinct.

The board is partnering with the city on a joint complex in the precinct that could house a recreation centre and high school.

“We believe the Scott Park site is the best option available as it allows the board to partner with the city on a joint-use facility that benefits both our students and the broader community,” board chair Tim Simmons said in a media release Monday.

The board has legislative authority to expropriate, which is the act of taking land without the consent of the owner. This is the second time it has used it in Hamilton.

The new $31.8-million high school will replace Sir John A. Macdonald, Delta and Parkview schools, which are slated to close in 2015. The board voted to close the schools last May after an accommodation review aimed at reducing the number of empty seats.

The board expects the expropriation will take three to nine months.
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Old Posted May 2, 2013, 4:21 PM
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Province to public board: We won't pay for Scott Park expropriation

The Minister of Education says the public school board will be paying out-of-pocket to expropriate Scott Park.

“We provided $32 million in capital funding to the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board to support the construction of a new replacement secondary school,” Liz Sandals said in an email Wednesday.

“We do not expect the board to use any portion of this funding to purchase a new site.”

The board can ask the ministry for permission to use capital dollars to purchase land, Sandals added. But she hasn’t received any such request.

Earlier this week, trustees announced they were expropriating Scott Park to build a new secondary school and recreation complex. The facility — a joint venture between the city and school board — is expected to replace Parkview, Sir John A. Macdonald and Delta, which are aging and under-enrolled.

Board chair Tim Simmons told The Spectator at the time the plan was to use provincial funding to buy back the property. The board off-loaded the school to a private developer in 2004 — three years after it closed.

“Obviously, I misspoke on that,” Simmons later explained. “The correct answer is we will purchase the property through the disposition of other properties.”

However, it’s just one of many projects the board intends to fund through the sale of schools.

In March, senior facilities manager Dan Del Bianco said the board will use renewal grants and property dispositions to fund the majority of a $19-million overhaul at Dalewood and G.R. Allen in the west end.

That’s also how trustees plan to pay for an additional $81 million in capital projects, such as a new high school on the Mountain and a major renovation at Highland Secondary in Dundas.

Even the board’s new $31-million headquarters near Lime Ridge Mall will be partly funded through the sale of administrative properties.

Any money the board makes through the sale of schools must be reinvested in schools, either new or existing. It can’t be used to build or improve administrative sites.

Asked how it will be possible to generate that much cash, Simmons said the board is saving a lot of money as it reduces its inventory.

“We’re also reducing a lot of the capital costs,” he added.

In addition to the trio of lower city high schools, trustees plan to close four others — Mountain, Barton, Hill Park and Parkside — and at least one elementary school between now and 2016.

Despite already approving the funding plan, trustees recently asked education director John Malloy to provide an in-camera report on the board’s ability to pay for the extensive capital costs. It’s expected this fall.

Simmons also noted the board had Scott Park valuated, and is “fully confident it meets our expectations of what we can afford.”

He won’t reveal the amount of the board’s assessment.

The school’s current owner also had an appraisal done. He says the building, which he bought for $1.2 million a year and a half ago, is worth $6 million as is. However, if he moves forward with plans to resurrect it as a 207-unit retirement home, he says it will be worth more than $47 million.

An official expropriation notice was published Wednesday.

While it’s still unclear how much the board will have to pay to expropriate the property, both its current and potential value will factor in the final cost.

The education minister didn’t comment specifically on the school buyback scenario.



http://www.thespec.com/news/local/ar...-expropriation
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