The Conseil-ecole (parents’ council) at Ecole Valois has written to the council expressing some concerns over delays in the planning and construction of the new Francophone school in Prince Albert, in particular with regards to allocation of a suitable building site for the new school.
President Roger Boucher will be a delegation at City Council’s Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
In a letter dated July 23 2024, Boucher said the provincial government was made aware of the need for additional space at Ecole Valois due to increasing enrolments. L’ecole school is requesting from provincial government a 10-acre parcel of land for the school project in 2013.
“The entire fransaskois community was happy to learn that an MOU had been signed between the Ministry and the Conseil des ecoles fransaskoises, for the construction of three new schools including a replacement school for Ecole Valois in March 2019,” in a letter written by Roger Boucher president, conseil-ecole Prince Albert.
Ecole Valois opened its doors in the former St. Margaret Catholic School under the management of the newly-formed Conseil des ecoles fransaskoises (francophone school board)In 1994-95.
The Provincial Government agreed to the construction In 2018, then Minister of Education, Gord Wyant and local MLA’s visited the school and concurred that the facility did not meet required standards.
“The entire Fransaskois community was happy to learn that an MOU had been signed
between the Ministry and the Conseil des ecoles fransaskoises, for the construction
of three new schools including a replacement school for Ecole Valois in March 2019,”
Boucher said.
The announcement led simultaneously over the next two years to efforts to find a suitable building site on municipal lands and to discussions, cost analyses, feasibility studies, engineering reports and consultations involving the provincial government, the CEF and our entire community pertaining to the acquisition of Rivier Academy.Boucher,”said
The president wondered why up until now no formal city support was provided
“Up until today, as far as I know the City maintains that our choices of building sites have not fallen within the present terms of its Overall Community Development Plan and seems unwilling to amend its plan,” We are continuing to work with City of Prince Albert officials to identify a suitable building site for our new facility. We have a particular site we think would be suitable for our school and francophone community center, it is at the east end of Marquis Road where it is just field,”said Boucher.
“From our vantage point, our children’s educational rights and our community’s development are very important to us and we would like to work at having all levels government work with us and help us achieve our goals to have our children get the education they deserve in a space they will thrive in.,” Boucher said.
The Executive Committee meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m.
