The Town of Kingsville is providing the community an update on the school properties.

In June 2024, three school properties in Kingsville closed permanently and remain vacant today.

The Town began discussions with the community in 2024, both in person at several public meetings and online, about whether the municipality should try to buy one or more of the school properties. The online discussion can be found here: https://haveyoursaykingsville.ca/future-of-the-school.

Council and staff considered the pros and cons, including the potential that the properties could fall into disrepair or be developed in a manner that does not reflect the community’s values and wishes.

Council directed staff to express interest in purchasing the High School and KPS and include a proposal to build attainable housing and create public use spaces.

Staff obtained property appraisals, engaged with the school board, and then several ministries of the provincial government. The Mayor and members of Council made presentations to several Ministers and ministry staff. Significant time has been put into this process.

When disposing of surplus properties, the legislative process gives public sector organizations the opportunity to submit an “expression of interest” to purchase the property, with a view to buying it before it goes on sale on the open market.

In response to a formal request from the province, Kingsville submitted an expression of interest in May 2025. Today, the province has responded that our expression of interest has “not been accepted”. The province did not share its reasoning for the denial. It is our understanding that the school board may now list the properties for sale on the open market.

This update will be added to our HaveYourSayKingsville project page.