Heather Wright/The Independent

With a provincial election looming, Lambton-Kent District School Board are getting anxious.

The $40 million Forest JK to 12 school project which will create spaces for over 1,160 students has been in the planning for years. It took longer than other school sites because the land near The Shores Recrea- tion Centre had to be purchased for the project.

But now the planning has been done, and the board has been waiting for a year for the green light to begin construction.

If there is a provincial election, the approval may drag on even longer.

Director of Education John Howitt told trustees at the Jan. 14 meeting the board has done all the work it can on the project and now is waiting for the Ministry of Education to approve the final details so construction can began.

Howitt said he brought the project up with the Minister, Jill Dunlop, when she toured local schools before Christmas.

“I had a face-to-face conversation with her, and about the need for it to be signed when it comes to her desk, and that it is, right in line with the square footage costs of all of the other projects that are being approved across the province,” he said.

Associate Director Brian McKay says he’s checked their numbers against other schools which have already received final approval.

“I don’t know why we don’t have the letter that allows us to build because we’re right in line with them,” he said.

“I want to make it really clear that the school board is 100 per cent committed to this project,” Howitt added “and has provided everything necessary to the ministry to move forward with the project.”

Trustee Jane Bryce says its frustrating to continue to wait. She added it might be a good idea, with an election on the horizon “to remind them we’re here.”