As we enter summer vacation for southeast Saskatchewan schools, there is some uncertainty about the future of schools in the Estevan area and how they might look in a few years.
The South East Cornerstone Public School Division announced during the school year that it would form a committee on the future of the Estevan Comprehensive School, which is now 50 years old.
They’re not looking to close the school or discontinue grades, but they are looking at their options as they are faced with a decision of whether to renovate the building or build new.
And they’re also examining ways to get more use out of the school.
Any decision they make could have a big impact on Estevan’s other schools.
A public meeting late last month seemed to send clear messages about the desire to continue to provide all of the programs currently offered at the school. The Comp. has that full fleet of programs for students to choose from, including arts, music, drama and trades programs, which are taught by dedicated and knowledgeable staff. There is also a wealth of extracurricular activities.
It would be wise of the Cornerstone board to continue to offer these programs, especially as these programs become more in demand by employers.
People also seem to want ECS to continue to remain a Grade 9-12 school, rather than adding Grades 7 and 8, a direction the Cornerstone board has taken with the Weyburn Comprehensive School.
People are not only concerned what would happen if Grade 7 and 8s had to go to school with Grade 12s, but they seem hesitant about what would happen if the four public elementary schools reverted to Kindergarten-Grade 6, which they were until 2003.
An associated concern is how this would affect the Holy Family Roman Catholic Separate School Division, which has two K-8 schools in Estevan.
Regardless of what the board ultimately decides, it will be years before any changes actually go through. The school division is merely examining the issue; they have some other projects to complete before they fully concentrate on a renovation of ECS, or the construction of a new high school.
(Judging by the discussions that have taken place, one would have to think the board is leaning towards a renovation of ECS).
But there is serious question to be asked: what can be done to maximize the usage of ECS, regardless of whether that’s the current school or a new building?
The school division says that ECS has never been fully utilized. It was constructed to handle about double the number of students that it currently has. And when you have significant portions of the building that aren’t used, it’s tough to turn to the provincial government and ask for money to renovate such a large building.
At one time, it was home to the Southeast College’s Estevan campus, but those days ended a few years ago when the college moved most of its programs into what was the Saskatchewan Energy Training Institute.
Many of the classrooms and offices in the area that was occupied by the college are now vacant.
So to help the school meet its capacity, do you convert it into a Grade 7-12 school? Do you seek additional partners who could have their programs inside the school?
While ECS has aged fairly well, particularly compared to some other 50-year-old schools, it’s still showing its age in other areas, particularly when it comes to infrastructure such as roof, heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
It’s nice that it’s a fairly bright building with a good front foyer and wide hallways, but those won’t be what ultimately guides the province’s decision.
This is also a particularly timely discussion to have considering the uncertainty associated with conventional coal-fired power generation in Estevan. Enrolments could be lower in Estevan schools in a few years once Units 4 and 5 at SaskPower are taken offline.
The future of ECS and, in turn, the other schools in Estevan, is a big decision facing the board, one that must be weighed heavily. About the only thing that we can expect is the division won’t be opting for the status quo.
