Clavet Composite School got a boost in funding after the provincial government recently invested $5 million to provide upgrades to the facility.
Government officials along with school representatives attended an official presentation at the school on September 3. The investment was part of the Government of Saskatchewan’s $7.5 billion two-year capital plan to build a strong Saskatchewan.
“For years, Clavet Composite School has been a space for many students, staff and families to learn, grow and to interact,” Education Minister Gordon Wyant said during his speech at the presentation. “As a government we recognize more investment was needed to create a safer and a more inclusive learning environment for staff and students. So with this capital investment, design work for these upgrades is ready to begin.”
The school was originally built in the 1960s and a lot of the core facilities haven’t been updated since that time. Some of the $5 million investment will go toward upgrades to the HVAC system as well as the electrical system.
“The whole electrical service to the building is undersized for the size of the building,” said Prairie Spirit School Division facilities planner Teresa Korol. “We would like to change the electrical service as well as changing to LED lightning, which will improve energy efficiency.”
Korol also mentioned that the learning and teaching styles have changed over the years and they want to make upgrades to the building to accommodate how the students learn.
“We want to develop more collaborative spaces instead of just classrooms that are closed doors and long hallways. We want to allow breakout spaces for children to work in small groups and to have opportunities for outdoor learning,” she said.
Clavet Composite School Principal Brian Matisz is also very excited that the building will be receiving major upgrades, which will in the long run benefit the students.
“Right now we’re trying to make things work and this (investment) will allow us to naturally get into 21st century learning. So I think this is going to be fantastic for our school and for our community,” he said.
Matisz also mentioned that structurally, this building is in very good shape and when it was first built it was architecturally ahead of it’s time, but there are others areas that needed to be updated.
“Our parents really like the school, they love sending their kids here and they are thrilled with the job that we’re doing here. This (investment) will continue to build on that excitement for what’s happening here in our building.” Matisz said.
During the presentation, Prairie Spirit School Division Bard Chair Sam Dyck spoke on behalf of the school division, and he mentioned that Clavet is a growing community. In his speech he said that one of the factors that people look for when moving to a new community is the education opportunities for their children.
“The planned improvements will enhance the great work the staff is currently doing and that joint parent, teacher endeavour will have a positive ripple affect within the community,” Dyck said. “The (school division) board is looking forward with great anticipation to the completion of this project and the positive impact it will have.”
The upgrades are expected to be completed by 2022.
“The Government of Saskatchewan is looking forward to working corroboratively with the school division and the community on upgrading the school with these modern features,” said Saskatoon Stonebridge-Dakota MLA Bronwyn Eyre.
