Students expected to return to Elizabeth Ziegler P.S. in 2027

What began as concerns over a crumbling facade has turned into a multimillion-dollar restoration project.

In March 2025, Waterloo’s Elizabeth Ziegler Public School (EZPS) was closed over safety concerns. At first, students worked from home until the board realized more than a quick fix was needed. Students were then assigned to other schools on a temporary basis.

A newly released report is shedding light on the progress of the restoration and how much the job is expected to cost.

On Wednesday, the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) published the Major Capital Projects Quarterly Update Report.

Right now, WRDSB is tendering contractor bids for the project that has an estimated cost of around $14.5 million.

While that’s a significant price tag, compared to the costs of a new school, it sounds like a downright bargain.

That same report shows the project budgets for the new schools under construction in Kitchener and South East Cambridge as just over $25 million each. The new school in Breslau is expected to cost just over $32 million.

A statement to 570 NewsRadio on behalf of WRDSB, Director of Education, Scott Miller reads, “Waterloo Region District School Board staff remain focused on supporting the repair, restoration and enhancement of the EZPS building, and have been busy completing the necessary pre-construction steps to allow construction to begin.”

The statement goes on to say the tendering process is expected to be completed, “in the coming weeks.”

“Once this step is complete, WRDSB staff will work with the successful general contractor to begin work at the EZPS site as quickly as possible,” the statement reads.

But, the big question for students and parents remains when the school will open.

The WRDSB has said the plan is have students return to the building in September 2027.