Saskatoon Public Schools to build new west-side school to replace 3 others

A new school built to house 400 to 500 students is coming to Saskatoon's core neighbourhoods.

The public school board plans on closing down three aging elementary schools — Princess Alexandra, King George and Pleasant Hill — and build one larger school in the area in the next two to three years.

"I think it's a great idea," said Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand.

"It's a great time to take on this challenge."

The decision to build the City Centre Project was originally announced in the provincial government's spending report in March, as one of several other school-building projects across Saskatchewan.

Saskatoon Public School Board chair Colleen MacPherson said the existing schools in the area are some of the oldest in the city, with two of them already 100 years old.

"A 106-year-old building has its drawbacks," said MacPherson.

"We just feel that that those students deserve a modern school that will serve their needs and beyond."

The call for a new school has been a long time coming. MacPherson said the school board had been asking for a replacement for the Pleasant Hill School since 1996. 

The new school could cost anywhere from $22.5 million to $25 million to build. The public school board estimates renovating the three existing schools would cost $68 million. 

The new school is expected to be built on the site of the current Princess Alexandra School.

Long distance

The move will mean some students will have to travel a greater distance to get to school.

Pleasant Hill Community School is located 1.5 kilometres away, while King George School is located 1.2 kilometres away.

MacPherson said many children in the area already take the bus and she doesn't believe that will change.

She said the board wants to do community consultations, but COVID-19 is complicating things.

"Obviously we won't be able to do them through feasts and gatherings which is what we would typically do," she said.

"We have to find new and creative ways to connect with those communities and that process is in development right now."

She said the board has been in communication with the City of Saskatoon and the Saskatoon Tribal Council to establish potential partnerships.

"I think it's going to bring more communities together," said Chief Arcand. 

"It's going to really make 400 to 500 students come together and really create something new in a different part of a neighborhood."

It's not clear what will happen to the school properties that will be emptied once the new school is built.