École Valois school in Prince Albert. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Ian Gustafson

Making Progress

Hopes for final decision on new francophone school in P.A. following third party analysis

Sep 28, 2020 | 5:00 PM

The French-Canadian Society of Prince Albert (SCFPA) is hoping the Ministry of Education will follow through with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in March 2019 with the Conseil des écoles fransaskoises (CEF) to bring new schools to Saskatoon and Prince Albert.

At the beginning of September, the Ministry of Education released details on the plans for Regina’s new francophone school. Regina was part of the MOU plan to put schools in those three cities.

Although the SCFPA is happy for the community in Regina, they have yet to hear what the decision or plans are for a school for the francophone community in P.A.

“We definitely want to congratulate the Regina community for getting the school because we know they need it,” said SCFPA spokesperson Estelle Hjertaas.

She said they want to keep the attention of the government and the CEF on this issue. The SCFPA is waiting on a third-party analysis from Colliers International for possible options for a new school in P.A.

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“We don’t know what exactly it will say in the end, but we’re excited we’ll have that in the near future,” she said.

Hjertaas explained they’re waiting to hear back on that report and should know by the end of the month but so far she said the options to replace École Valois have been to either build a new school or purchase and renovate the Rivier Academy. They developed a business plan presented to the ministry for the purchase of the Academy earlier this year.

Once the report is done it will go to the Government of Saskatchewan to possibly make a final decision on a plan. Although it is not guaranteed, there has been some optimism within the community. There has been uncertainty within the community since the memorandum was signed.

École Valois is the only school in P.A. that offers a francophone education. Hjertaas said putting a plan in place should be a priority because of the lack of space for the amount of students at that school and it’s too small to offer certain programs. Another issue is the SCFPA had to move out of the school to make more space within the school for students.

“My understanding is the government is on board with the idea that the French community wants their stuff to all be in the same place so they can continue to have that community interaction,” she explained.

A statement from a Ministry of Education spokesman via email to paNOW explained, in part, that a consultant has been preparing an options analysis for a new CEF school in Prince Albert.

“All options are being considered, including the repurposing of the former Rivier Academy,” the statement said. “The consultant is currently finalizing the report with the CEF. Once it is complete, it will be shared with the ministry for further review.”

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Ian.gustafson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @iangustafson12