By this fall, the building which currently houses Ecole Valois may be vacant. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

School on the move

École Valois may be close to finalizing new home

Apr 24, 2019 | 5:18 PM

Neighbourhood safety concerns and a need for more space are the main reasons why officials behind Prince Albert’s only francophone school are in search of a new home.

The school’s parent council president Roger Boucher, whose children also attend École Valois, told paNOW he has heard repeated concerns from other parents and staff members. Boucher said every morning, janitors in the school have to do a regular needle check around the school grounds.

“On a regular basis, police arrive at the houses across the street so the kids get quite a show sometimes,” he said.

As an example, Boucher said when Education Minister Gord Wyant came for a school visit last fall, there was a fire at one of the homes across the street. To help prevent unwanted foot traffic across the property during school hours, fencing was added to the perimeter prior to the start of the 2019-2020 school year.

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“There are 200 kids going to that school but the projected enrollments are over 400”_{– Michel Dubé.}

“I would like to see my daughter go to high school at Valois and right now, the high school is not huge because a lot of students tend to go to other schools like St. Mary or Carlton to continue their French, but also for perceived opportunities they don’t get at Valois,” Boucher said.

In addition to staff and students from École Valois, the French Canadian Society of Prince Albert would also make the move into the new building. Society President Michel Dubé said the current school building is very old and has a number of architectural and structural challenges, including a leaky roof.

Dubé added the building is also much too small to accomodate a K-12 program.

“The school grounds are only set up for the elementary level, so the high school can’t access any outdoor activities. There’s just no room,” he said.

The Rivier Academy campus was closed in 2017. (File photo/ paNOW Staff)has been vacant since

Prior to 2013, the French Canadian Society also had their main office and programming at École Valois but moved out that year to make room for the increasing enrolments at the school.

“There are 200 kids going to that school but the projected enrolments are over 400,” Dubé said.

Dubé has been involved in the discussions with the provincial government and said he would like to see everyone moved into the new building by Sept. 1, but added he was aware all expenditures have to first go through the provincial government’s treasury board.

“I am expecting an announcement in the next week or two,” he said.

Included in the 2019 provincial budget was a commitment by the province for new francophone schools in Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Regina. Education Minister Gord Wyant toured Rivier Academy last month, but there was no further comment from the ministry at the time regarding why he was there.

In a statement Wednesday from the Ministry of Education, there was also no mention of any plans being finalized.

“The Ministry of Education is working closely with the Conseil des écoles Fransaskoises to reach a solution for francophone students in Prince Albert. This includes conversations with the owners of Rivier Academy. Discussions are on-going and no decisions have been made,” the statement said.

Rivier Academy is currently owned by the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary. Lawyer Mitch Holash, who is advising the group, has previously said they are looking at other opportunities that won’t require them to be in the building long term.

–

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell