HUMBOLDT — The Government of Saskatchewan announced a new program where school divisions can submit funding requests for minor capital projects, which Horizon’s board used to re-request the Muenster School renovation and Watrous consolidation.
Each year, the provincial education ministry asks school divisions to submit three major capital projects in February for consideration. They’ll then consider which projects will be funded in future provincial budgets.
This year, the ministry also allowed divisions to submit their minor capital projects, but according to the Horizon School Division’s board of education, they’re one and the same.
Kevin Garinger, Horizon’s director of education, said by putting the same projects on the list, they’re saying those are important projects for the Division.
“Muenster has been on there for a number of years, we’re hopeful we can take it off at some point because we get some of the capital renewal funding we need for that project,” Garinger said. “It’s about relocating space and creating additional space we need in that school to support programming needs and that sort of idea.”
Listed as the top priority on the major capital funding list and now also on the minor capital funding list is the Muenster School renovation. The renovation would include a relocation of the school’s office, as well as move the industrial arts program in-house.
Currently in Muenster, the industrial arts program is housed three blocks away. The project estimated to cost about $1.2 to $1.5 million.
The Watrous build is a consolidation project, similar to Lanigan which received funding in 2020 from the Ministry of Education. Watrous is now entering its second year on the list. The project is expected to cost over $20 million.
A project in Kelvington, a late addition to the major product list submitted this year, is also being moved to the minor project list which would involve a consolidation.
The last major project the Horizon School Division received funding for a new school in Lanigan, which the province announced $21 million in funding for in 2020.
All divisions are required to submit their minor capital project selections by May 31.
