UPGRADES APPROVED FOR BALCARRES SCHOOL

The provincial government is providing approximately $370,000 for renovations and expansion of the Balcarres School. The Prairie Valley School Division relocated the pre-kindergarten – Grade 3 classes to the main building in March when mould and a sewer line failure were discovered in the facility.

"Health and safety for students and teachers are priorities that place a facility at the top of the list of our capital projects," Learning Minister Deb Higgins said. "We met with the school division as soon as the classes were moved and determined that the best solution is to provide a more modern and spacious education facility for all the students and to integrate the lower grades back into the school."

The first phase, of the two-phased project, will include planning, the construction of a new multi-purpose room and renovations of the existing multi-purpose room into three classrooms. The total cost of the first phase will be $600,000. It is being funded from joint department and school division capital reserves held by the school division.

"Prairie Valley School Division would like to thank Saskatchewan Learning for its responsiveness to an identified facility need in Balcarres School," Director of Education Jan Chell said. "We welcome the new addition and renovations, which will provide required classroom space as well as enhancement to the performing arts area. These functional spaces will support the learning needs of all the students in our Community School."

In 1998/99 the school division identified a space shortage at Balcarres School and leased the adjacent unoccupied facility in 2000 to be used for pre-kindergarten – Grade 3 programming. The lease has since expired.

The total commitment by the provincial government for pre-kindergarten - Grade 12 capital projects is $22 million this fiscal year. Additional capital projects will be announced throughout the 2006-07 fiscal year.

"Investing in our schools will go a long way toward helping students reach their potential," Higgins said. "We will continue to work with school divisions to provide safe, well-equipped learning environments."

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For More Information, Contact:

Nelson Wagner Saskatchewan Learning Regina Phone: (306) 787-6040