The main entrance to the Living Sky School Division office in North Battleford looks like it could use a facelift, but, in fact, it needs more work than first glance would suggest.
The board of education has finally resigned itself to a heftier bill for the repairs than they would like.
The first figure that was floated for them to consider some months ago was $100,000, a surprise amount that chair Ken Arsenault said was "obscene." This month, the figure has been brought down to about $37,000, plus another $5,000 for a new sign.
Trustees decided they can do without a canopy (the old one had to be removed for safety reasons), in order to keep the cost down. Tenders for a new entrance with canopy had recently come in at $94,000, $96,000 and $125,000.
At the board's most recent meeting, Facilities Manager Brian Bossaer says the job will need to be done by an outside contractor as the division's own trades are too busy with other work.
Trustees have said they want the school board office to present a respectable main entrance, but they'd rather be putting the money into the classroom.
