Catholic Central students plead for new school in Windsor

Students from Catholic Central High School in Windsor nearly moved the school board's chair to tears Tuesday night as they passionately called on the board and province to build them a new school.

Students said they deserve a new building, but Queens Park has rejected a funding request to build the school seven times in seven years.

Now, students are growing frustrated and loud.

Three of them made their case the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board meeting.

Their presentation drew long applause and nearly moved chair Barb Holland to tears. She had to pause and sniffled before addressing the students.

"We will not stop, you continue to be a priority to us ... We know you are there," Holland told the delegation.

When student Jonathan Nader learned Catholic Central was denied funding for the seventh time, it was all the motivation he needed to speak out.

"It made me want to work harder in the school, just for them to notice how hard everybody works together and kind of make us more deserving of the new building," he said.

The high school is the most multicultural school in Windsor, with more than 72 cultures represented and 54 languages spoken there.

The school wins athletic championships, despite a lack of adequate practice faculties, the board heard. The wrestlers advance to OFSAA annually, but train in the cafeteria.

Manal Muzammil said the school doesn't have reliable Wi-Fi.

"And even with those things that aren't available for us, we've still been working our hardest and succeeding in so many ways," Muzammil said.

Students say a new building would make them even more competitive.

The school was built in 1929, and can no longer house today's larger student population, the board says.

"You are not defined by your building. I think so highly of you," Holland told the students.

Beyond last night's presentation, the students say they don't know what else they can do to persuade the government to fund a new school.

Earlier this month, Education Minister Liz Sandals announced a $498-million promise to build 30 new schools and renovate 26 others across the province.

Windsor and Tecumseh will get a new school each. The announcement didn't include Catholic Central.

"I don't think there's a person sitting at this table who was not absolutely devastated, disappointed; there aren't even words that can describe the emotions we felt when that announcement was made," Holland said.

Vice chair Mary DiMenna said it was most upsetting the ministry didn't let the board know Catholic Central didn't get funding.