Maude Burke portables approved, but NESD looking at permanent solution

The provincial government is allowing the North East School Division to tap into its reserves to buy two portables for Melfort’s Maude Burke Elementary – but it’s looking at a more permanent solution.

“The board swallowed hard when they heard $800,000 last meeting and said, ‘maybe we can hire a contractor and add on an additional space,’”  said Don Rempel, the division’s director of education, after the Jan. 23 board meeting. “We’ve got to do a business case on if we could go further and get more, or if we could spend less than $800,000 if we did new construction with a contractor versus buying portables and moving them in.”

So the board has approved spending up to $800,000 for two portables or two new permanent classrooms.

Rempel said the timeline to come up for a solution for Maude Burke is as soon as possible.

Luke Perkins, the division's chair, agreed the board’s approval will be music to Maude Burke’s ears.

“That’s an immediate gain. They need room right now. It’s up to admin to figure out what’s the best route forward: either construction of an expansion or a portable.”

When asked if the division was concerned that it was letting the provincial government get away with not spending money at the expense of the school division, Perkins said the need for room is more pressing.

“Our concern is that the government might not fund us right away and we have a major problem there.”