The Prairie Spirit School Division (PSSD) Board of Trustees approved a loan in the amount of $68,332.11 for a new accessible playground at the Leask Community School.
The PSSD Board passed a resolution to that effect at its video-conference meeting on June 15.
The loan will be paid back by the Leask School Community Council (SCC) over a period of years. The SCC must pay a minimum of 5% of the loan amount annually for five years.
The Board also approved a motion to send a letter supporting the Leask Community School SCC’s application to the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program for funding of the playground project. The grant application is for funding in the amount of $60,000.
The Leask School SCC is currently undertaking fundraising in the community for the playground, which is expected to cost a total of $90,000. So far, the local group has raised $20,000. The loan from the PSSD will be used as “bridge financing” to enable the group to proceed with construction of the playground this year.
PSSD Deputy Director of People and Finance Bob Bayles said the school division’s financial stake will be protected by an agreement signed with the Leask School SCC.