Blake Ellis/The Independent

Construction has begun on the new ball diamond at Lambton Centennial Public School.

Lambton Kent District School Board’s Associate Director of Corporate Services Brian McKay says the board budgeted
for $400,000 and the tender came in at $320,000. Work is expected to be completed by the first snowfall of the year.

The school was one of 15 recipients across the country to be chosen for the Toronto Blue Jays Field of Dreams program, which awarded $150,000 to the project. Sections of the original diamond had to be torn up as a new septic system was installed at the school.

Turning to another project, McKay also announced the school board hopes to be read to tender the $74 million construction project of the new Blue Coast District School in Forest by late November or December.

The procurement process will be in the school board’s hands, as long as the contract is within budget, said McKay.

The school board is looking to have a public event in the fall so it can celebrate with the community on the start of construction of the new school. It has been nine years that the school board has been waiting for funding, said School Board Chair Kelley Robertson. The province made an announcement on the $74 million funding in August.