A west Whitby school opening delay will require students to attend other area schools before moving into their new building later this fall.
The Durham District School Board (DDSB) confirmed the update during its Jan. 19 meeting, where Associate Director of Corporate Services Lisa Bianca provided trustees with a progress report on three new schools scheduled to open in 2026.
Bianca said construction is well underway on all three projects, including a new secondary school in north Oshawa and two public schools in west Whitby. Two of the schools — the Oshawa secondary school and a public school at Maskell Crescent and Coronation Road — are expected to open as planned in September 2026.
However, the second west Whitby public school, located at Cisco Drive and Limoges Street, will open later than anticipated due to a delayed construction start.
“After reviewing the schedule with the contractor and exploring every opportunity to improve timelines, the difficult decision was made to move the opening to October 2026,” Bianca told trustees.
DDSB staff are developing plans to temporarily accommodate affected students at nearby Whitby schools until the new facility opens. Families will be notified once school boundaries are finalized, and a public boundary consultation is currently underway.
In addition to the three schools opening in 2026, the DDSB has submitted requests to the Ministry of Education for four additional public schools as part of the 2025–2026 capital priorities program, including proposed schools in Oshawa, Scugog, and Pickering.
