A new K-8 school in Winkler has reached the top spot on the province's priority list.

The detail was revealed on Wednesday during a discussion of budget estimates.

"It's exciting to see," Garden Valley School Division Board Chair Laurie Dyck says. "When you sit on the board and work on these things you sometimes wonder, "how long could it possibly be before a new school comes?""

While she notes GVSD has been awarded a number of schools over the years, "in defense of that we've needed them. And we've proven that because they are full and we are needing more."

GVSD is the top user of portables in the province and has one of the highest ratios of student-to-portable in Manitoba.

One of the many portable classrooms in use at Parkland Elementary School

Education Minister Ian Wishart indicated Garden Valley School Division is at the top of a growing list of communities that need new schools.

However, he says there's still a lengthy approval process before an official announcement can be made.

"But I think the message needs to get out there that we are very aware of the increasing needs in the K-12 system across the province," Wishart says. "But in particular those two sites are ones that stand out."

In the near future, Wishart says the government will publish a ten-year plan for new schools, "so that everybody knows where they're at."

GVSD was recently approved for three more portable classrooms, bringing the total to 43.

Superintendent Vern Reimer says the portables will meet the division's needs, temporarily.

Wishart notes portables help keep up with growth, but a critical mass must be reached before a new school is built.

"You don't build a school for the first full classroom, you build it once you can fill the whole lot," Wishart says.

The new K-8 school on the top of the list would be constructed at the Pine Ridge location on the city's west end.

Once it's completed roughly 200 stduents would move in from J.R Walkof Elementary, Emerado, Winkler Elementary and Parkland.

The community of Niverville is also on the list. Wishart says that project would involve the merging of two schools and construction of a new facility.

He notes there's currently no timeline in place for either communities.