Two east end high schools could have new additions as early as next fall.

At an Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) meeting on June 23, trustees recommended that board staff hire an architect to come up with designs for the additions at St. Matthew Catholic High School and Lester B. Pearson Catholic High School.

According to OCSB trustee for Orléans-Cumberland, Stephen Blais, staff have asked to expedite the school projects.

“If all goes well, everything should be done by September of 2010,” said Blais.

The OCSB has approved a six classroom addition at St. Matt’s and a combination of a permanent addition and relocatable structure at Lester B.

The news of the additions at the two schools comes after the provincial government announced recently that it is funding $5.5 million, under its new Energy Efficient Funding Approvals, to improve students accommodations at St. Matt’s and Lester B.

For years, the parents councils at both schools have been fighting to have the portables replaced, citing concerns with the age of the portables and health of students.

Four of St. Matt’s portables are set to be removed this summer.

“This is very good news for the two schools,” said Blais. “This shows what can happen when everyone comes together for the good of our students.”

In 2006, part of the OCSB’s Capital Plan, there were recommendations to build new additions to the two schools to deal with the overcrowding.

But the two schools did not qualify for funding from the province because of the projected decline in enrolment.

“We really tried to aggressively to get some money from the province,” said Blais.

Blais said a few other details needed to be worked out, including approval from the City of Ottawa. But he said he doesn’t see any complications for these projects that are long overdue.

“I don’t see anything happening that could prevent these projects from happening,” said Blais.