By Taylor MacPherson

Meath Park School restoration delayed

Nov 4, 2016 | 4:57 PM

Meath Park School will not be re-opening Nov. 14, as the school division had planned.

On Oct. 20 a fire tore through the school and caused significant damage throughout the building. The Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division initially suggested students would be able to return to the school following their week-long break next week, but the students’ return has since been pushed back.

Director of Education Robert Bratvold made the announcement in an open letter to the community yesterday, Nov. 3.

“We had hoped students would be able to return to Meath Park Public School after the November break,” wrote Bratvold. “We now know that the timeline has been extended.”

“Given the extent of the damage and the need to ensure safety of students during the restoration, students and staff will not be able to return to Meath Park Public School possibly until late November or early December,” the letter stated.

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“Even this timeline is not certain,” Bratvold wrote. “We will provide a further update when more information is available.”

Bratvold noted there had been no surprises encountered during the restoration process, but the work is very time-consuming.

“The amount of work that the restoration company expected to be done, particularly within classrooms, was more than they anticipated,” Bratvold told paNOW. “It’s just taken longer to clean thoroughly than we thought.”

The school’s canteen, where the fire originated, will need to be demolished and rebuilt, along with one change room. Bratvold said the other change room will need to be “gutted and reconstructed.”

Engineering reports confirmed the gym remains structurally sound, but Bratvold said the entire floor and heating system will need to be replaced, along with a section of the roof.

“It will be months before it is usable,” Bratvold said.

In other areas of the building, restoration has progressed well. Bratvold said work in the school’s library and shop area is essentially complete, and he expects the school’s elementary wing to be completed early next week.

“Portions of it are looking almost ready for occupancy,” Bratvold said.

Since the fire, the 270 Meath Park students have been bussed into Prince Albert for school. Students in kindergarten to Grade 4 are attending Spruce Home School, while students in Grades 5 to 12 are attending Carlton. 

Bratvold said the staff at Meath Park and the host schools have been helpful throughout the transition.

“You couldn’t say enough about how they’re taking a potentially difficult situation and just turning it into learning experiences for kids,” he said.

Taylor.macpherson@jpbg.ca

@TMacPhersonNews