Released on September 11, 2015
Education Minister Don Morgan joined Saskatoon Public, Greater Saskatoon Catholic and Prairie Spirit school divisions, along with students, parents, community members and dignitaries today to celebrate the start of construction for 12 publicly-owned elementary schools to be built on six joint-use sites in Saskatoon, Martensville and Warman.“Our government is delighted that this historical project is officially underway and that we can look forward to meeting the needs of our students, teachers, families and communities for generations to come,” Morgan said. “We recognize that Saskatoon, Martensville and Warman continue to experience extraordinary growth and they are in need of more schools. I’m proud to say that thanks to the support of our educational partners, we’ve taken another big step toward it.”
Saskatoon’s eight schools will be located in Hampton Village, Evergreen, Rosewood and Stonebridge, the Warman schools will be built in the Traditions neighbourhood, and Martensville schools in Lake Vista.
“We are very pleased that construction is about to begin on our new schools in Warman and Martensville and we look forward to working with our parents and communities to build a strong learning culture for our students in these schools,” Prairie Spirit School Division Board Chair Larry Pavloff said. “These new schools are urgently needed for our Prairie Spirit students in these rapidly-growing communities.”
“Schools are central to our communities and neighbourhoods,” Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools Board Chair Diane Boyko said. “They are not only centres of learning and development, they become hubs of activity for the entire community. Our Catholic schools also become focal points of spiritual development, encouraging our children to grow as faithful disciples, serving communities in which they live. We’re excited to see construction begin in these growing and vibrant communities.”
“These are exciting projects that will not only serve as centres of education for our students, but as gathering places for these growing neighbourhoods,” Saskatoon Public Schools Board Chair Ray Morrison said. “Saskatoon Public Schools appreciates the investment in the infrastructure required to provide first-class learning for students and we look forward to working with students and families to create strong learning communities.”
The Stonebridge School in Saskatoon will welcome grades 5 to 8 students from Whitecap Dakota First Nation (WDFN) as part of a unique partnership between Saskatoon Public Schools (SPS), the province, federal government and WDFN.
“Today marks an important milestone in our Education Partnership,” Whitecap Dakota First Nation Chief Darcy Bear said. “Together with our neighbors in Stonebridge, the children and community of Whitecap Dakota Frist Nation are directly benefiting from the project and the support from SPS and both levels of government.”
The joint-use schools will be using a public-private partnership (P3) model that will see 18 new elementary schools built in Saskatchewan.
“The Joint Use Mutual Partnership team couldn’t be happier to be working with the province, cities and each school board to deliver these tremendous facilities in Saskatoon, Martensville and Warman,” Joint Use Mutual Partnership Lead Derron Bain said. “The projects are off to a great start and on track for ringing its first morning bell in September 2017.”
The 18 schools will accommodate more than 11,000 students from Prekindergarten to Grade 8 at full design capacity, which includes more than 5,700 students in Saskatoon, 2,100 students in Martensville and Warman, and 3,300 students in Regina. Each joint-use school will contain a 90 space early learning centre as well as community space. Joint-use schools are co-owned by the public and Catholic school divisions.
The schools are scheduled to be completed and ready for students by September 2017.
Since 2007, the province has committed approximately $966 million toward 65 major school capital projects and numerous smaller projects such as portable classrooms and preventative maintenance and renewal.
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For more information, contact:
Amanda Purcell
Education
Regina
Phone: 306-787-1069
Email: amanda.purcell@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-533-7506