By Tyler Marr

Arthur Pechey, Meath Park school work near completion

Jun 25, 2017 | 9:30 AM

The hammers will soon stop swinging at two local schools as their repairs and upgrades move closer to completion.

To accommodate the launch of a new French Immersion program at Arthur Pechey School, a number of new portable classrooms needed to be installed.

“We are adding six more relocatable classrooms as well as washroom facilities and they are just being ready to be set in place and connected to the main building,” Mike Hurd superintendent of facilities for Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division said.

The project has been ongoing since it broke ground last fall. Despite minor setbacks due to poor weather, this work is expected to be complete by the end of July. The division has budgeted around $2 million for the project, though it is expected to come in well under budget.

As well, work to repair and replace the damage to Meath Park School after the fire last fall is expected to be completed before the fall semester.

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On Oct. 20, 2016, a fire tore through the school and caused significant damage to the building. The school’s canteen, where the fire originated, was demolished and rebuilt, along with one change room. The gymnasium also suffered extensive water damage, requiring the entire gym floor and heating system to be replaced. Investigators concluded the blaze originated as an accidental electrical fire on a stove in the kitchen.

“We have been working on restoration since that time, and we are getting ready to put in the new gym floor and we are hoping by the end of July we will be near completion on that project,” Hurd said.

He added that the restoration will include some upgrades for the facility, such as an automatic curtain in the gym and glass backboards for the basketball hoops. The student lounge area will also be slightly larger and modernized alongside a new cooling system and other updates. The restoration and reconstruction project is expected to tally up to more than $1.5 million, according to Hurd.

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr