Premier Scott Moe and Carrot River Valley MLA Fred Bradshaw joined students, staff and representatives of the North East School Division to celebrate the official beginning of construction on the new Carrot River School that will replace and combine Carrot River Elementary and Carrot River High schools.
The new school project will attach to the existing high school gym, which was constructed as an addition to the current high school, back in 2005. Construction is being led by Saskatchewan-based company Wright Construction.
“What this will do for this community is really revitalize what the old school has done for decades now,” said Moe. “It will give students an opportunity to attend school and learn from our teachers and all of our education staff, but also be a center for the community.”
It is expected to welcome students in early 2024 with an estimated cost of $28.4 million of which the government is contributing $25.7 million. The remaining costs are being donated by the community and the school division.
“The community is ecstatic about this,” said Bradshaw. “I really thank the community for all the work that they have done for the school and the money that has been raised. We’ve had another million and a half dollars raised out of the community to be able to enhance some of the things within the school.”
The approximately 4,400 square metre facility is just over half the size of a CFL football field, accommodating up to 400 students from Kindergarten to Grade 12.
The new school will be a modern facility featuring state-of-the-art classrooms and will feature an expanded Practical and Applied Arts area with funding from the community and the school division.
“I would like to thank the Government of Saskatchewan and Premier for the investment in our new Carrot River school,” North East School Division Board Chair Kevin Graham said, in a press release sent to northeastNOW. “We look forward to the school opening and all of the ways the new facility will support the programming and learning opportunities for our students in years to come.”
Since 2008, the Government of Saskatchewan has committed approximately $2.3 billion toward school infrastructure projects. These projects include 57 new schools and 28 major renovation projects, and two projects approved through the new Minor Capital Renewal Program.
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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com
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