By KEVIN BERGER, Local Journalism Initiative
Prairie Spirit School Division (PSSD) trustees passed a motion during their January 19 meeting to continue the process of reviewing the viability of Laird School, which could lead to its potential closure or the possible discontinuance of one or more grades.
This motion was a necessary step in the school review process as detailed in The School Division Administration Regulations. A communications spokesperson for PSSD specified that the board had to choose to either suspend the review process or push forward with it prior to February 1.
The next step in this process willl be a meeting of electors — in other words, a meeting with the parents and other residents of Laird who are eligible to elect the School Community Council (SCC) — prior to the end of March. The details of that meeting have not been finalized.
It should be stressed that a final decision regarding the future of Laird School has not yet been made. In fact, the final board motion in the school review process will be put forward during the meeting on Monday, April 20.
At that time, trustees will choose to suspend the school review and leave Laird School as is, discontinue one or more grades, or close Laird School at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.
Background
The Village of Laird is located approximately 67 kilometres north of Saskatoon and directly west of the Town of Rosthern.
The PSSD initiated a formal review of Laird School’s viability due to declining enrolment. Laird had only 37 students as of September, and The School Division Administration Regulations state a K-8 school may be considered for closure (or the discontinuance of multiple grades) if its enrolment falls below 51.
In fact, Laird had fallen below that threshold during the 2022-2023 school year and its enrolment has not recovered since then.
The regulations further state that a board of education may only carry out a review of a school if the nearest K-8 school is not more than 40 kilometres away.
In fact, the closest K-12 school is in Waldheim, which is about 14 kilometres southwest. Currently, Grades 9-12 students from Laird attend Waldheim School.
It is also worth noting that Laird School currently requires an estimated $1.5 million in renovations, including a roof and HVAC replacement.
As part of the overall process, PSSD also appointed a School Review Committee in late October. Its membership includes Julie Shaw-Bergen (Laird School SCC Chair), Julia Neufeldt (Laird School SCC member), Kathryn Jacques (Laird School SCC member), Tammy Slingerland (Laird School SCC member), Abe Guenter (Village of Laird Councillor), Josh Dueck (Village of Laird resident), Luise Willems (Village of Laird Councillor), and Garry Bergen (RM of Laird ratepayer).
The purpose of this commitee was to consult with families and community members to understand local perspectives and provide feedback to the PSSD board.