The Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) announced today that it has received approval from Ontario’s Ministry of Education to build a new secondary school that will serve students in St. Thomas and the surrounding area, marking the first new high school for the board in more than 20 years.
The board says the project represents a major investment in the future of local education, although details on the school’s exact location, design, and construction timeline have not yet been shared.
As part of the transition, however, Arthur Voaden Secondary School, which first opened in 1926, will close at the end of the 2025–2026 school year.
Rob Flack, Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, advised talks are underway with the City of St. Thomas on possibly re-purposing the school.
The board says the decision follows a comprehensive review conducted with the Ministry of Education. While the building remains safe for students and staff, officials say significant long-term maintenance and infrastructure upgrades would be required and are considered cost-prohibitive.
In a release from the province, it was noted that $43.6 million will be invested in the new construction replacement for Arthur Voaden, with capacity for 703 students and 88 licensed child care spaces.
TVDSB says families of Arthur Voaden students will be contacted by early May with information about where students will attend school beginning in September 2026. Staff are also working through planning related to course selections, program offerings, and extracurricular activities to ensure continuity during the transition.
Additional details are expected to be shared with the school community in the coming weeks as planning continues.
Written by: Kennedy Freeman
