A handful of projects have been in full swing over the summer at a number of schools in the Garden Valley School Division.
    
Secretary-Treasurer Terry Penner said one of the biggest things underway is planning for a new K-8 school to be built in Winkler.

Penner said weekly meetings have been happening between the architects, consultants, Superintendent Vern Reimer, and the division's Capital Project Supervisor, Abe Wiebe.  He said they are working on a design development package and initial cost estimates for the Public Schools Finance Board (PSFB) approval.

"When that is approved by the PSFB, then the architect team and the consultant team will get very busy with the construction drawings," said Penner.  "That's the detail, all the structural, mechanical and electrical that has to get drawn up.  That's what takes a fair bit of time."  Penner said so far everything on the planning side is right on schedule.

Penner said the design development package and initial cost estimates are expected to be sent to PSFB by August 8th.

GVSD has been working on an accelerated timeline on this project, therefore Penner said they've had to streamline some of the planning. Penner said when people finally see the drawings and building, it will likely have a flavour that's a combination of Prairie Dale School in Schanzenfeld, and Northlands Parkway Collegiate in Winkler.  "They're kind of using the best of the lessons learned to incorporate into this project."

Meanwhile, a number of other projects are also ongoing.  Three portable classrooms have been relocated from Garden Valley Collegiate.  Two have been moved to Parkland Elementary School, and one to J.R. Walkof.  All three of the portables are on site, and crews are working on making the final connections as well as some renovations.  

Also at Parkland, work on the grooming room project at Parkland is winding down and should be complete soon.

Work to convert a former classroom into a grooming room at Parkland is almost complete

Winkler Elementary School (WES) is also getting some attention this summer.  Penner said a fairly significant interior painting project is going on which will see the 1977 section of the building completely re-painted.  The specific area includes the Industrial Arts space, library area, and the junior high area on the second floor.  "It's a really significant initiative and the crew that's been working on that has done some very good work so far."

A substantial intercom/P.A. system upgrade is also happening at WES.  "Their old existing analog system wasn't very reliable anymore," said Penner. "So now we're putting in a state of the art digital P.A./intercom system.

"The Pit," is one of the areas of WES getting a fresh coat of paint

GVC Tec will also be gaining another classroom.  A portion of the existing shipping and receiving area will be turned into a classroom to better accommodate the very popular Diesel Technology program.  

Work is ongoing to convert a portion of the shipping and receiving area at GVC Tec into additional classroom space

Penner noted all projects are on track to be completed in time for the start of school in September.

In terms of the cost of the projects, the grooming room and portables were financed through the PSFB, while the other projects are being covered through local taxes.  The painting project is pegged to cost, $40,000, $30,000 to $35,000 has been put aside for the GVC Tec project, and the intercom system at WES was estimated to cost $85,000, however, the cost is lower than expected, with $61,000 invested in that project.