Premier Scott Moe joined a number of representatives at the future location of Moose Jaw’s joint-use elementary school to officially announce the project’s progress for South Hill students and neighbourhoods.
“Today we know where this beautiful school is going to be built, right here in Westheath, and congratulations to the community and the school divisions on working together to choose this site,” said Moe. “We want to make sure that this new facility will meet the need of Moose Jaw when it opens in the fall of 2023, and will meet those needs for decades after.”
Moe was joined by Deputy Premier and education minister Gordon Wyant, MLA for Moose Jaw Wakamow Greg Lawrence, MLA for Moose Jaw North Warren Michelson, and representatives from the City of Moose Jaw, Prairie South Schoool Division and Holy Trinity Catholic School Division.
The future site of the joint-use school is located in the southwest part of the city, on the edge of the Westheath neighbourhood on South Hill and will consolidate the current institutions of Empire School, Sacred Heart School, St. Mary School and Westmount Elementary School.
It will eventually accommodate 900 pre-kindergarten to Grade 8 students from both of Moose Jaw’s school divisions, and operate a fully-licensed child care facility for 51 children.
The provincial government has committed $50 million in funding to support the creation of the generational project, including planning, design and construction.
The joint-use facility was announced in the Sask Party’s budget last year, with the official site location decided upon by school board members in September of 2019.
Recent questions about the development of infrastructure on the site rose during the city council meeting on Sept. 8, as the city and the project organizers discussed responsibility in developing the subdivision for use.
Accessibility concerns have also been raised about the chosen site, as some think it is too far from the core South Hill neighbourhoods for students who walk or bike to school.
Wyant responded that the site selection process was done in conversation with both school boards, with all factors considered before deciding on the current location.
“This is a facility that will serve this community for not just today, not just next year, but for decades into the future,” said Moe, in response. “Ultimately at the end of the day, we do need to select a site and it will come through that process as being deemed the most positive site for the community.”
The project is promising to continue consulting with South Hill communities and other interested parties as the project continues.
School board members Robert Bachmann from Prairie South and Derek Hassan from Holy Trinity said they are pleased to officially name the site the future location of the joint-use school, and to develop a new educational space on South Hill.
A traffic impact assessment is needed before construction plans commence on the project, which will be completed by Sept. 25 by the Ministry of Education.
