New School in Saskatoon City Centre Set to Start Planning and Design Work
Today, Premier Scott Moe, Deputy Premier and Education Minister Gordon Wyant, Saskatoon University MLA Eric Olauson, Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark and Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) Chief Mark Arcand, joined Saskatoon Public Division Board Chair Colleen MacPherson to announce the beginning of the planning and design phase for a new school that will replace Princess Alexandra, King George and Pleasant Hill Elementary schools.
This new school is part of the government’s $7.5 billion two-year capital plan to build a strong Saskatchewan and stimulate our economic recovery following the pandemic. The government is investing $29 million to build a new Prekindergarten to Grade 8 school with state-of-the-art learning features and support services.
“The government recognizes that as communities in and around Saskatoon’s city centre continue to grow, we will need to invest more to ensure schools, students and families have access to safe and inclusive learning resources,” Moe said. “This new, modern school will support the diverse needs of the community, help them stay focused on learning and make a real difference in their lives.”
The new school will accommodate approximately 500 students from Prekindergarten to Grade 8. Construction is scheduled to begin sometime in 2022 once the design and planning phase is completed. It is anticipated that the project will be completed in Fall 2024. The facility will have modern features fit for the 21st century classroom with added community functions and services that will greatly improve the student learning environment.
“This project is about providing the very best for students, and we thank the provincial government for supporting the King George, Pleasant Hill and Riversdale neighbourhoods by funding this new school,” MacPherson said. “All students are deserving of the kind of innovative learning environment we will create here, a school that will support them in reaching their potential and encourage them on their education journey. As we bring three neighbourhoods together, we will work to strengthen the valuable relationships that already exist in order to build a new learning community.”
Community partnership will be critical to the timely completion of the new school. Throughout the planning and design phase, the school division and the ministry will continue to collaborate with partners and local organizations, including City of Saskatoon representatives and members of the STC, to ensure that the needs of the community are met.
“This an opportunity to provide a great school for many students who will also have access to afterschool and evening programming for children, youth and families at the White Buffalo Youth Lodge,” Arcand said. “The new school will be a shining star within the neighbourhood providing a sense of hope and opportunity for positive change so people can have a quality life through education.”
The Ministry of Education, SaskBuilds and the school division are currently in the process of hiring a project manager who will take a lead role in the planning and design phase.
Since 2007, the province has committed more than $1.9 billion toward school infrastructure projects, which includes 85 major school capital projects and numerous smaller projects such as portable classrooms and preventative maintenance and renewal.