PROVINCE INVESTS IN NEW CONSEIL DES ÉCOLES FRANSASKOISES REGINA HIGH SCHOOL

Deputy Premier and Education Minister Ken Krawetz today announced that planning for a new high school serving Regina's Francophone students will be moving forward, thanks to the $61 million infrastructure investment in Saskatchewan schools included in the Government of Saskatchewan's 2009-10 budget.

"We know that high quality school facilities support student achievement," Krawetz said. "We also want to keep Saskatchewan's economy strong and steady. By moving forward on much needed infrastructure projects, we are helping both our economy, and our children and youth."

"The Conseil des écoles fransaskoises (CÉF), its students, families and community partners welcome this announcement with great enthusiasm," Conseil scolaire fransaskois president Barbara Riley said. "We are confident that together with the Ministry of Education, we can develop a state-of-the-art Francophone school which will meet our growing high school population's academic, linguistic and cultural needs into the 21st century."

The new facility, which is expected to open its doors during the 2011-12 school year, will serve 100 students in Grades 8-12 currently attending école Monseigneur de Laval in Regina.

With today's announcement, the CÉF Francophone high school project has been given approval-in-principle status. Capital projects receiving approval-in-principle status enter a community consultation phase that results in an improved facility, ensuring that the unique needs of the community are reflected.

The new CÉF facility is part of a larger capital announcement made earlier today by Minister Krawetz. Other projects include approval-in-principle of a new Regina Public elementary school to serve the Wascana Community School and area, as well as a number of smaller block capital projects.

Over the past two years, the Government of Saskatchewan has invested over $320 million in PreK-12 school infrastructure across the province. To date, these funds have moved forward 20 major school capital projects and approximately 150 school renovation projects.

-30-

For more information, contact:

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

Christelle Tiati
Conseil des écoles fransaskoises
Regina
Phone: 306-751-8655