HWDSB once again offers vacant schools to the city for temporary shelter or medical use

Hamilton's largest school board has renewed its offer for the city to use vacant schools for emergency shelters or medical centres during the pandemic.

Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) trustees voted on Monday to remind the city that there are unused schools available.

"As COVID-19 numbers climb across the city, and with winter starting, we are concerned that many of our most vulnerable will be facing the need for emergency support, especially if we are in any lockdown situation," said Maria Felix Miller, Ward 3 (central lower city) trustee, in a media release this week.

"I hope that by reaffirming the commitment we made in the spring, we can let the city begin planning if they see the buildings as useful."

Chair Dawn Danko said in the release that the move this week was "a strong motion that all trustees can get behind."

Danko will write the city a letter before the holiday break.

For the city's part, it hasn't received the letter yet, spokesperson Aisling Higgins said in an email. But the city "sincerely thanks the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board for their offer of unused facilities."

The city is already using a former school, the Old Cathedral Boys' school at Main and Emerald, as a temporary emergency shelter.

The school opened in 1912 under what was then known as the Hamilton Separate School Board, says the current Cathedral High School website, and closed in 1992.