$8.3 MILLION FOR NEW PORCUPINE PLAIN SCHOOL

Education Minister Ken Krawetz today announced $8.3 million in government funding for an estimated $12.2 million new Kindergarten to Grade 12 school in Porcupine Plain.

"This investment exemplifies the benefits of the Ready for Growth initiative that is helping us grow our economy, improve our quality of life and take pride in where we live," Krawetz said. "The new Porcupine Plain school will strengthen the education opportunities for the town's young people and the community in which they live and grow."

"Construction of a new K-12 school at Porcupine Plain has been a dream of several former boards and a priority of the North East School Division since it formed in 2005," North East School Division board chair Lorie Annand said. "Working in partnership with the town and the Ministry of Education, we intend to construct an educational facility that will be a source of pride for the school division and the larger Porcupine Plain community for generations to come."

The new school will replace Porcupine Plain Elementary School and Porcupine Plain Composite High School, bringing all of the community's students together under one roof. The new school will provide a safer, more accessible environment and will include more appropriately designed space for educational programming, which in turn will improve student achievement. The facility is expected to be completed in 2010.

The Government of Saskatchewan committed $117.6 million in this year's budget for kindergarten to Grade 12 school improvements as part of the Ready for Growth initiative. Additional funding of $60 million for capital funding was announced this spring that will support eight more school improvement projects next year.

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For more information, contact:

Jacquie McLean
Education
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5609
Email: jacquie.mclean@gov.sk.ca