Most Capital Funds in Prairie South Spent On Rural Schools

In a case of “following the money” an enquiry from a Prairie South School Divison (PSSD) trustee for the last ten years in capital repair expenditures has shown schools in Moose Jaw have received less funding than their rural counterparts.

An enquiry by Trustee Brian Swanson may well show some rural schools needed some major repairs and updating versus their urban counterparts over a ten year period.

According to figures released by PSSD capital spending on 22 rural school in the division was $34,533,267.24 while spending on 12 schools in Moose Jaw was $15,880,658.37. The total of capital spending over the ten year period was $50,413,925.61 or an average of $5,041,392.56 annually.

On average the 22 rural schools each received $1,569,693.97 capital expenditures whereas on average the 11 Moose Jaw schools each received $1,443,696.22.

The largest recipient of capital funding was Ecole Gravelbourg with $10,164,356.29.

Funding for Ecole Gravelbourg was roughly paid for in a formula of 90 percent from the Province and 10 percent by PSSD. The left over proceeds from the sale of the Ross School building and property went towards Ecole Gravelbourg.

Capital spending on Gravelbourg’s three PSSD facilities was $11,999,736.91.

While the lowest recipient of capital repair funding was Chaplin School with $167,254.40 over the ten year period.

The highest recipient of capital repair funding in Moose Jaw was Peacock Collegiate with $5,436,308.48 over the ten year period.

While the lowest recipient of capital repair funding in Moose Jaw was the now defunct John Chisolm School which received $375,829.79 over the ten year period.

Speaking about his enquiry Trustee Swanson said he found it interesting to see where the capital expenditures had been spent.

“It’s kind of fun to do some calculations with this. And I believe we should always follow the money and it is interesting to do so,” he said.

Capital Funding to Empire School has been $1,475,003.35 over the last ten years - MJ Independent file photo

Below is the list of capital spending per school over the ten years:

RURAL

Assiniboia Elementary $3,154,491.31

Assiniboia High School $680,811.13

Avonlea School $223,728.35

Bengough School $1,414,251.31

Caronprt Elementary $470,118.91

Central Butte School $774,400.64

Chaplin School $167,245.40

Coronach School $1,177,301.01

Craik School $2,067,116.60

Ecole Gravelbourg $10,168,356.29

Eyebrow School $909,247.86

Glentworth School $2,754,342.07

Gravelbourg High School $1,315,400.25

Gravelbourg Other $515,980.37

Kincaid School $2,625,646.92

Lafleche Central School $1,989,755.73

Lindale School $626,417.80

Mankota School $665,773.89

Mortlach School $129,610.14

Mossbank School $943,156.82

Rock Glen School $1,570,594.21

Rouleau School $189,520.23

MOOSE JAW SCHOOLS

Central Collegiate $1,548,940.51

Empire School $1,475,003.35

John Chisolm School $375,829.79

King George School $455,021.94

Ecole Palliser Heights $1,271,967.01

Peacock Collegiate $5,436,308.48

Prince Arthur School $585,755.11

Riverview Collegiate $793,064.40

Sunningdale School $634,135.01

Westmount School $1,466,028.57

William Grayson School $363,600.89