Sask. Opposition says Ponteix francophone school in dire need of upgrades

Saskatchewan's Opposition NDP says a rural francophone school in the province has deteriorated into a terrible, unsafe state.

École Boréale in located in Ponteix, Sask., about 220 kilometres southwest of Regina, and provides pre-kindergarten to Grade 12 French education to students in the Cadillac, Vanguard, Aneriod and Ponteix areas.

Jaqueline Roy, NDP critic for francophone affairs, said in the legislative assembly on Monday that she visited the school and found it in a terrible state. She described "the ruined library, the cracks in the walls and the worn carpets in the gymnasium."

"In my 17 years as a professional educator, I have never seen a school worse than this one," Roy said.

Walter Chizzini, community development agent for Les Auvergnois de Ponteix, which represents francophone groups in the area, said the school's conditions were not fit for the 15 students who attend.

"The number of students increased, and it was necessary to acquire portables," said Chizzini. "But, in these portables, pseudo-classrooms were created, so the space has been totally insufficient since the school's creation."

Roy said francophone students are looking to attend English schools in the area due to the state of the school.

"We have a school that is literally hemorrhaging students to the English school in the same community because it is never in effect lived up to the standards of a regular school," Roy said.

The Conseil des écoles fransaskoises, the French school division for the entire province, said in a statement that the Ponteix school's infrastructure needs are critical and have been for several years.

"We are actively working with the Government of Saskatchewan to address this urgently," the statement said.

Roy called on SaskBuilds and Procurement Minister David Marit, whose riding includes Ponteix, to visit and see the school first-hand.

Education Minister Everett Hindley said Monday that the government increased the budget for Saskatchewan's 27 school divisions by 8.4 per cent in the most recent budget.

"We recognize that there are priorities across Saskatchewan, in our major centres, but also in our rural communities, from one border to the other," he said.

Hindley acknowledged that there is a lot of work to do in buildings like the Boréale School. He said he hasn't been to the school himself, but would be happy to do so.

He also confirmed that the school division has received a request from the school about bringing its facilities up to standard, and that the division and his ministry are having discussions about additional funding in the 2026-27 budget.

"So we are obviously aware of it and that's where it currently sits in the process," Hindley said.