To help support families and students through the closure of Elizabeth Ziegler PS, we’ve prepared answers to a selection of frequently asked questions. We will continue to update this web page as information becomes available.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About the Closure of Elizabeth Ziegler PS
The decision to close Elizabeth Ziegler Public School has been made based on direction from professional staff and structural engineers to ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff.
Based on the current assessment by the structural engineering firm retained by the board, we are not able to occupy any part of the Elizabeth Ziegler PS building. The report from the structural engineering firm retained by the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) confirms that we will not have occupancy of Elizabeth Ziegler Public School for the 2025-26 school year.
Read the full Elizabeth Ziegler Public School Final Structural Assessment in PDF format.
School closures are disruptive for students and families and we appreciate everyone’s understanding during this difficult time. We are committed to keeping families up to date, as information becomes available.
Our goal is to reopen Elizabeth Ziegler PS for September 2027.
Based on the current assessment by the structural engineering firm retained by the board, we are not able to occupy any part of the Elizabeth Ziegler PS building. The report from the structural engineering firm retained by the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) confirms that we will not have occupancy of Elizabeth Ziegler Public School for the 2025-26 school year.
Based on the recommendations from the structural assessment report, the WRDSB will proceed with restoring and repairing the original structure. The WRDSB is committed to moving forward with this project in a timely manner.
We remain committed to keeping the Elizabeth Ziegler and Sandowne Public School communities informed as this work progresses.
Read the full Elizabeth Ziegler Public School Final Structural Assessment in PDF format.
Students at Sandowne PS in portables will have access to washrooms in the main school building.
We recognize that this transition may be challenging for students and families. Our aim is to ensure that students remain with their classroom teacher through these transitions. To support this, we have developed a comprehensive plan that prioritizes educational continuity and student well-being.
WRDSB is fully committed to providing the necessary supports to ensure a smooth transition for students and staff and to mitigate the impact on student academics.
The interim report from the structural engineering firm retained by the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) confirms that we will not have occupancy of Elizabeth Ziegler Public School for the 2025-26 school year.
Based on the recommendations from the structural assessment report, WRDSB will proceed with restoring and repairing the original structure. We have engaged with the Ministry of Education to share our proposed next steps and funding opportunities for the restoration of Elizabeth Ziegler Public School are being determined. The WRDSB is committed to moving forward with this project in a timely manner.
While we continue to wait for confirmation from the Ministry of Education our goal is to reopen Elizabeth Ziegler PS on September 1, 2027. We continue to be committed to keeping the Elizabeth Ziegler and Sandowne Public School communities informed as we learn more and will provide an update as new information becomes available.
Read the full Elizabeth Ziegler Public School Final Structural Assessment in PDF format.
Read more about the 2025-2026 Return to Learning for Elizabeth Ziegler PS Students and Staff.
Based on the recommendations from the structural assessment report, the WRDSB will proceed with restoring and repairing the original structure. The school remains closed as we work to repair and restore the building. The school is expected to open in September 2027.
We remain committed to keeping the Elizabeth Ziegler and Sandowne Public School communities informed as this work progresses.
Read the full Elizabeth Ziegler Public School Final Structural Assessment in PDF format
At this time we cannot occupy any part of the Elizabeth Ziegler Public School building, and as a result staff and students will not be able to remain at this location for the 2025-26 school year.
As of April 15, 2025, new students or internal transfers in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6, residing within the 2024-2025 Elizabeth Ziegler Public School boundary will attend either:
- Empire Public School
- Prueter Public School
The determination of which school the student will attend will depend on their home address.
Transportation to Empire PS or Prueter PS will be provided to qualifying students based on distances outlined in Board Policy 4009 – Student Transportation.
We have engaged with the Ministry of Education and they provided direction to use our school condition improvement (SCI) funding to support this project.
Learn more about the WRDSB budget.