Recently, the Southeast Cornerstone Public School Division board of trustees voted unanimously to close Souris School, along with Haig and Queen Elizabeth schools, and to move staff and students from all three schools into a new elementary school that was approved by the province to be built in Weyburn.
The initial reaction from most people upon hearing the news is usually ‘how dare they close the school’. While I understand that there is an attachment to the bricks and mortar of any school facility, it is important to remember it’s more important to protect the wellness, health and safety of the staff and the students.
Souris School does have a historic place in our community, as the building is over 100 years old, but with age comes some challenges at the school. Even though the facility itself is structurally sound, there are accessibility issues inside Souris School, especially when you look at the configuration of having classes split between the basement, first floor and second floor. The school makes it work … but it can be better for the staff and the students at that facility.
It is important to note that currently the Government of Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Education is the main supplier of funds for any capital projects that might have to be completed at schools. This includes Prevention and Maintenance Funding, which school divisions receive as a lump sum and then determine which schools need those funds the most. It also includes funding for renovations or new builds, and Souris School is not on the list to receive funding to help improve accessibility issues.
The other thing to remember is that the Cornerstone school division currently has approval to build a brand new elementary school, one that would be state-of-the-art and could be tailored to meet the needs of the students and staff who will be attending that school. Also, that new elementary school will only be a reality in three to five years, depending on construction schedules and timelines.
Cornerstone is doing the best future planning for the schools in Weyburn with the information they have received from the Ministry of Education, and the direction that they are being asked to take. There will be more options for learning at the new elementary school, and isn’t that the most important thing to protect when we are talking about education?
It will continue to be important for Cornerstone to look at the bigger picture as they move forward with building the new elementary school. There are some major transportation concerns that will have to be addressed.
The school division did act in the best interest of the community, and we should recognize that.
