The size of the new public school in Forest will be bigger.

And the cost has nearly doubled.

The Ministry of Education announced today it’s providing an additional $12.4 million for the new Kindergarten to Grade 12 to be built near the Shores Recreation Centre.

The school will now have up to 1,186 students and will provide 49 child care spaces in a three-room child care centre.

In a news release this morning, the Lambton-Kent District School Board says the total cost of the building has increased from $27.4 million to $39.8 million. Officials said they have “revised the scope” of the project “for anticipated increased enrolment and additional child care spaces.”

“The increased scope for the project will allow us to be forward thinking in our design plans and increase pupil and child care spaces, as well as accommodate increased construction costs based on the current market,” said the Board Chair Randy Campbell in a news release.

The project will bring students from Aberarder Central School, Bosanquet Central School, Kinnwood Central School and North Lambton Secondary School to one spot.

The design of the school still has to be approved by the ministry. LKDSB officials said construction is likely to start in the spring 2024. It’s not clear when students will move into the building.