UPGRADING SEVEN SASKATOON AREA SCHOOLS

The Government of Saskatchewan is investing $521,000 on improvements to seven schools in Saskatoon and the surrounding area.

"We are investing in schools, in students and in the future of Saskatchewan," Learning Minister Andrew Thomson said. "As part of our long-term K-12 capital strategy, these 2004-05 block funding upgrade projects demonstrate our continued commitment to improve the learning environment in Saskatchewan schools."

The block funding capital improvement projects include:

- The Saskatoon Public School Division will receive $155,000 for preliminary planning funding, $100,000 for the new west collegiate and $55,000 for Nutana Collegiate. The school division will also receive $74,000 for a new roof for Walter Murray Collegiate;

- The Saskatoon Catholic School Division will receive $150,000 for preliminary planning funding, $100,000 for the new west-side High School and $50,000 for E.D. Feehan High School. The school division will also receive $116,000 for two new relocatable classrooms for Mother Teresa School; and

- The Saskatoon West School Division will receive $26,000 for special needs accessibility upgrades, a wheelchair ramp and washroom and exercise room renovations for Walter W. Brown High School.

These projects will be cost-shared with the Saskatoon West School Division and the Saskatoon Public and Catholic school divisions.

These projects are part of the provincial government's investment of $3.3 million to improve the learning environment in 41 Saskatchewan schools. With these projects, the total commitment by government to K-12 capital projects this fiscal year is $22 million.

In addition, Saskatchewan Learning has previously committed to roof replacement projects at four schools in Saskatoon and the surrounding area. Mount Royal Collegiate received $217,000, Dalmeny's Prairie View School received $98,000, Hanley Composite High School received $62,000 and Holy Cross High School received $110,000.

"Schools today are more important than ever as vital centres of our communities," Thomson said. "We need to continue to upgrade learning facilities so they can serve Saskatchewan communities well."

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For More Information, Contact:

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