P.J. Gillen project canned

The Ministry of Education has rejected a funding request from GSSD for renovations to P.J. Gillen School in Esterhazy pending further justification.

In October, the school experienced air quality issues. An investigation determined the entire HVAC system would need to be replaced at a cost of approximately $4 million.

The school board immediately applied for funding under the government's Emergency Block Funding program. Because of the cost of the project, the ministry placed the proposal on its major capital list instead of the block list and requested an engineering study.

GSSD submitted the study Dec 5, 2012, but it was too late to be prioritized for the current fiscal year, the letter said.

At the school board's regular meeting March 21, Dwayne Reeve, director of education presented trustees with a letter from the Russ Marchuk, minister of education, saying the scope of the project was too large and requesting that the division present an additional option, "an option that would focus specifically on providing a new heating system for the school."

The minister stated concern that the project was nearly double the cost of work done at the larger Preeceville School.

Reeve advised that an alternative option is not really feasible as Preeceville only required part of the school to be renovated. The board decided to go back to the ministry with a further explanation as to why the full scope of the P.J. Gillen project is necessary.

In the meantime, the population at P.J. Gillen is making do with a temporary heating solution and natural ventilation.