Prairie South School Division plans to spend over $7 million on building maintenance projects during the next three years, including a roof replacement at Peacock and flooring upgrades at Central.
Prairie South manages a multi-year preventative maintenance and renewal (PMR) plan, while the Ministry of Education requires the board of education to approve an updated plan annually and submit it by May 31.
The board discussed the 2024-26 PMR plan — valued at $7,075,000 — during its May meeting and authorized division administration to submit it to the ministry.
In 2024 the division plans to spend $2,175,000 on projects in Coronach, Bengough, Caronport, Chaplin, Mortlach, Rockglen, Moose Jaw, Assiniboia, and Gravelbourg.
Specifically, PSSD plans to spend $100,000 to upgrade building management controls — heating and cooling — at Caronport Elementary School and $25,000 to replace security cameras at Central Collegiate.
In 2025 PSSD expects to spend $2,540,000 in Assiniboia, Eyebrow, Rouleau, LaFleche, Moose Jaw, Assiniboia and Rockglen.
Specifically, the division plans to spend $900,000 to replace three roof sections at Peacock Collegiate and $240,000 to replace concrete at the board office.
In 2026, the division plans to spend $2,360,000 at Caronport, Assiniboia, Eyebrow, Lindale, Mossbank and Moose Jaw.
Specifically, PSSD plans to spend $100,000 to upgrade asphalt and concrete at Peacock, $100,000 on asphalt at Caronport Elementary School, $85,000 on asphalt at Riverview Collegiate, $150,000 on floors at Central and $50,000 to enhance flooring at École Palliser Heights School.
Buildings manager Darren Baiton explained that if an unexpected project is required in a school — such as installing a wheelchair-accessible bathroom— then division administration amends the plan, gives it to the board for approval, and re-submits it to the ministry.
Trustee Shawn Davidson was concerned about whether the division office included inflation in the overall costs. He thought these numbers looked similar to past plans, which was unrealistic since it wasn’t 2021 anymore.
The board has already seen inflation negatively affect other projects, including the joint-use school, he continued. Also, inflation has caused a “dramatic uptick” in construction costs by more than 30 per cent in some cases.
“We do see our purchasing power around preventative maintenance and renewal being significantly eroded by cost increases without a subsequent increase to grant (funding) … coming from the government,” he said, noting the plan was unclear about which projects would be prioritized first.
The ministry’s goal with PMR funding is it should be one per cent of the value of all school buildings, which total around $10 billion provincially, stated Davidson. This means the province should hand out nearly $100 million to the 27 school divisions but is only distributing about $50 million.
“We need to hold people accountable for the promises they’ve made to the education sector,” he added.
All PMR projects were increased by 25 per cent, but it’s uncertain if that will be enough, said Baiton. He pointed to the city’s South Hill reservoir pump station upgrade project that was to cost roughly $4 million, but tenders came in at $8 million, forcing city hall to shelve the initiative.
While some contingency funding was included this year, that will be offset after the province cut the division’s PMR funding by $300,000 to $2.3 million, he continued.
“But the market, they’re telling us it’s getting better, but we’re not really seeing it … ,” Baiton said, adding the division will prioritize cameras and building management systems since some units are nearly 30 years old.
Trustee Crystal Froese agreed that Prairie South is feeling the financial pinch because of less government funding and PST on projects. While a $7 million PMR plan is significant, not doing these projects now means they will be more expensive later.
The next PSSD board meeting is Tuesday, June 6.
