$12.8 million school still not open

Residents of the Peavine Metis Settlement located just outside of High Prairie are frustrated with the delayed opening of a new $12.8 million dollar school.

The construction for Bishop Routhier School was completed last April, but the doors have yet to be opened to students.

Residents of the Peavine settlement say they have no idea why the school still hasn’t opened, and although the old Bishop Routhier School isn’t bad, they would much rather see their children in the new facility.

According to Alberta Education, the old Bishop Routhier School, built in 1961, has a leaky roof as well as outdated ventilation, heating and electrical systems. AE also stated that the schools washrooms and floors were in need of repair.

Currently, the old school can hold up to 105 students, while the new building can accommodate up to three times that amount. The new school will be able to accommodate more grade levels- including junior high children that are currently being bused into High Prairie every morning.

The delayed opening of the new school was also a factor in Education Minister Dan Hancock’s decision to fire the Northland School Division’s board of trustees on Thursday.