MOOSE JAW — The cost to renovate École St. Margaret School is forcing Holy Trinity Catholic School Division to reduce its project list over the next two years to ensure it has sufficient funding for all initiatives.
The single-track French immersion school serves roughly 200 students from kindergarten to Grade 8 and was constructed in 1956. About 60 per cent of the school is being used and needs major structural repairs, particularly to its six portables and exterior.
The division is addressing these issues and others as part of its minor capital renewal program. The project is costing $6.6 million, with the province providing $4 million and the division covering the outstanding $2.4 million using its preventative maintenance and renewal (PMR) account.
The board approved the 2023-24 PMR program in 2022 and the 2024-25 PMR program in 2023 as part of its regular three-year PMR plan.
Holy Trinity is facing a funding shortfall because of this project, which has forced division administration to amend its 2023-24 and 2024-25 PMR project list, Matt Heisler, buildings manager, said during the recent board meeting.
Administration initially planned to spend $852,636 during this school year and $685,167 next school year on upgrade projects, but changed those numbers to $562,462 and $1,314,000, respectively, he continued.
That means this year’s budget decreased by $290,174 and increased by $628,833 next year.
Original vs. revised
Heisler’s report showed that the original spending intentions and the revised intentions for 2023-24 are:
- St. Agnes: $159,189 / $85,000 for classroom rejuvenation and rooftop air conditioning repairs
- St. Margaret: $284,223 / $34,935 for minor capital repairs
- St. Michael: $242,689 / $25,000 for classroom rejuvenation
- Vanier: $166,535 / $57,168 for classroom rejuvenation and elevator replacement
- All Saints, Swift Current: $0 / $25,000 for a soccer pitch and playground
- Christ the King, Shaunavon: $0 / $300,000 for developing the school’s front
- All school buildings: $0 / $35,359 for asbestos abatement consulting and IT equipment upgrades
Meanwhile, Heisler’s report showed that the original spending intentions and the revised intentions for 2024-25 are:
- St. Agnes: $26,266 / $25,000 for classroom rejuvenation
- St. Margaret: $350,000 / $805,000 for minor capital upgrades
- St. Michael: $155,904 / $25,000 for classroom rejuvenation
- Vanier: $68,291 / $143,000 for classroom rejuvenation and elevator replacement
- All Saints: $0 / $250,000 for a soccer pitch and playground
- Christ the King: $15,759 / $0
- All school buildings: $68,947 / $66,000 for asbestos abatement and IT equipment upgrades
The division has “full intentions” of completing the soccer pitch/playground project at Christ the King this year, said Heisler, but if it’s “late to the game” and can’t find contractors this summer, it will complete the project next year.
“But we hope we can get somebody to bite and do the project this summer,” he added.
Ward Strueby, director of education, said Holy Trinity receives $500,000 in PMR funding annually from the province, although “sometimes it goes up and sometimes it goes down.” However, that was the amount the province provided the division this year.
The next Holy Trinity board meeting is Monday, Aug. 19.
