Chronology of the Elizabeth Ziegler School Shutdown
Elizabeth Ziegler Public School to Remain Closed Until 2027, Students Relocated
Elizabeth Ziegler Public School, which has been closed since March 2024 due to structural concerns, is expected to reopen in September 2027. The Waterloo Region District School Board announced this timeline as they plan extensive repairs to address the building's deterioration and ensure safety.
The closure was initially extended until March 28, 2024, and later announced to continue for the rest of the 2024-2025 school year. During this period, students have been relocated to portables on site or transferred to other schools.
Regular track and French Immersion students will attend Sandowne Public School in the 2025-2026 school year. Students in full-day Kindergarten classes, Extended Day Program, and Grades 1 through 6 will continue their lessons in portables on the Elizabeth Ziegler Public School property. Students taking Alternative Continuum of Education (ACE) classes will remain at JW Gerth Public School, while Congregated Enrichment classes will continue at Brigadoon Public School.
The school needs a new interior steel frame, additional foundations, work on the roof for proper drainage, and replacement of window supports. Once the interior work is done, the exterior masonry needs to be reinforced, repaired, and restored. The school board plans to move forward with the work, but did not share the projected cost of the project.
A community meeting for families affected by the closure of Elizabeth Ziegler Public School was held on March 20, 2024. More than 100 people attended the meeting at McGregor Public School. The board addressed its plan to send students to Sandowne Public School on April 10, stating they were unable to consult the broader Elizabeth Ziegler school community due to the need for "timely decisions."
Waterloo MPP Catherine Fife and Kitchener Centre MPP Aislinn Clancy called for a review on the formula used for school infrastructure funding on April 4. The results of a structural engineering assessment of Elizabeth Ziegler Public School were released on June 11.
Students returned for in-person classes at Elizabeth Ziegler Public School and Sandowne Public School on April 1, 2025. Portables have been added at Sandowne Public School for the 2025-2026 school year, with a total of 12 portables now on site.
[1] Waterloo Region District School Board (2024). Elizabeth Ziegler Public School Closure. Retrieved from https://wrdsb.ca/news/elizabeth-ziegler-public-school-closure/ [2] CBC Kitchener-Waterloo (2024). Elizabeth Ziegler Public School to remain closed for rest of the 2024-2025 school year. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/elizabeth-ziegler-public-school-closure-1.6386146 [3] Global News (2024). Elizabeth Ziegler Public School to remain closed for at least another year. Retrieved from https://globalnews.ca/news/8618207/waterloo-region-school-closure-elizabeth-ziegler/ [4] The Record (2024). Elizabeth Ziegler Public School to reopen in 2027. Retrieved from https://www.therecord.com/news-local-news/2024/04/01/elizabeth-ziegler-public-school-to-reopen-in-2027.html
[1] Despite the closure of Elizabeth Ziegler Public School, ongoing news updates highlight the importance of education-and-self-development for students, who are being relocated to alternative schools and portables.
[2] Following the announcement of Elizabeth Ziegler Public School's reopening in 2027, many parents may seek out news focused on education-and-self-development strategies to help their children adjust to the change and prepare for their future school experiences.
