There's no provincial funding for the project, but the Living Sky School Division board of education has given its approval to administration to call for tenders on renovations to the North Battleford Comprehensive High School to accommodate relocating Grade 8 students there in September of 2013.
If no provincial help is forthcoming, the cost, probably between $500,000 and $600,000 will have to come out of division reserves.
At a meeting May 8, board members expressed frustration with not only the lack of capital funding for phase 1 of the NBCHS project, but the inability of the Ministry of Education to commit to any funding for the second phase. That second phase would allow for moving Grade 7s into NBCHS as well, to alleviate overcrowding in Battlefords elementary schools. The main requirement would be the addition of another gymnasium.
"We told the ministry we need a commitment around that project because for those [Grade 7] kids to be there for September 2015 we need to know for the 2014-15 budget," said the division's chief financial officer, Lonny Darroch. "The Grade 7s going over there is contingent on that [gymnasium] being done."
Board chair Ken Arsenault isn't feeling positive about getting any funding for a new gym, which could cost in the ballpark of $1.2 million.
"They [the ministry] feel the one gymnasium, by their criteria, is adequate even if the Grade 7s go over there," said Arsenault.
Darroch said the ministry looks at a calculation of "x" amount of students and gym size.
"The problem is trying to run all those classes through there and the timetable to allow that to happen." said Darroch. "It's going to be problematic even with the Grade 8s."
The division's superintendent of school operations, curriculum and instruction, Brian Quinn, said, "I've never been in that gym that there wasn't at least three classes going on, one on the balcony and two on the floor. That's standard now."
Board members expressed frustration at the difficulty of planning ahead when the ministry gives them funding information only one year at a time.
Arsenault said, "There's a level of frustration there and I think everyone who has spoken to the ministry has passed it on. There's just no planning and it costs money when you don't plan."
While they are moving ahead with the project, board members still plan to lobby members of the legislature representing Living Sky residents, about lack of funding and lack of commitment from the ministry.
Arsenault says the ministry can't give them any commitment for money in the 2014 budget, the time frame for being able to prepare for moving the Grade 7s to NBCHS. However, it has given them a 95 per cent commitment on what the division's funding will look like, per the formula, next year.
"To me," said Arsenault, "that means they're happy with the formula. It's going to remain fairly constant now without major changes."
He also said, "It's my belief there won't be any more capital funding."
Any renovations to facilities will now be done through the Preventive Maintenance and Restoration Fund, he said. (The division received some $600,000 this year through that fund and, by legislation, the division has to at least identify its asbestos issues, which will cost at least $200,000.)
While the ministry isn't forthcoming with capital funding, it has at least committed to ongoing maintenance and operational funding if the division goes ahead with a new gymnasium, with the proviso that the plans are "approved" by the ministry.
Board member Glenn Wouters said he was not in favour of even the Grade 8s going into NBCHS without adequate gym space, and he's still concerned about overcrowding in the elementary school even with the Grade 8's moving out.
"We need to talk with the MLAs extensively," he said.
Board members Jack Snell, Ron Kowalchyk, Richard Hiebert and Kim Gartner agreed the board has to continue pressing the MLAs.
"I can't see how they can justify laying it back on us for funding the Grade 7s," said Gartner. "It's clearly not going to work without that gym."
Without it, the only option is a new school, he pointed out, referring to past talks between the City of North Battleford and the Light of Christ Catholic School Division about a shared facility.
Board member Bob Foreman said, "Every move we make, they don't give us the approval or the direction until way after [the provincial] budget, and almost at the door of when we are moving kids. It's ridiculous."
Arsenault also noted the government has been promoting funding capital projects through P3 process (public-private partnerships), but Foreman said he didn't see how they could deal with any kind of P3 in their position.
It is a possibility the division will attempt to get the province to agree to funding for a new gym by putting the provincial government portion in as a loan in the budget for next year.
"If they accept it, it's a way they could possibly finance it over 10 years, like we did the Macklin gym," said Arsenault. "I think they'd shoot it down, but it's worth a try."
