École St. Pius X and Argyle School students may soon be leaving the old bricks behind, as the two are going to be combined into one joint-use facility.

The announcement came as a part of the 2019-2020 provincial budget, released on Wednesday.

The new facility would involve both the Regina Catholic School Board and Regina Public School Board, with each board running its respective parts of the facility.

Carol Reyda, who has two children currently attending École St. Pius X, supports the plan.

For the last six months the parents association has been working to raise awareness and pressure the provincial government, she said.

“Any school event we went to there’s a petition that they’d ask people to sign,” she said.

There have been reports of cracks in bricks and unsafe conditions in both École St. Pius X and Argyle School. Minister of Education, Gordon Wyant, said he toured both schools.

“I had a great conversation with the parent groups on both schools. I think that’s the reason that we’ve committed to the construction of a new facility,” he said. “Because certainly when it comes to health and safety, that’s the number one concern.”

École St. Pius X and Argyle School rose to the top of the list because of that, Wyatt said, and the new school will be a traditional build.

The new Regina facility is not the only upgrade in the budget. Included in the more than $3 million for capital school spending is a plan to also consolidate four schools into one in Moose Jaw. As well, there is money set aside to look at the St. Francis Cree School in Saskatoon for either repairs or potential rebuilding in the future.

“Investing in students and investing in education is good for the future of the economy of the province,” said Shawn Davidson, president of the Saskatchewan School Board Association.

Joint-use facilities have been successful in the province, Davidson said, and they foster a spirit of cooperation between boards.

“There’s some plus to them,” Davidson said. “We’re actually very encouraged on the capital side of things.”

“There’s always more fence than there is paint, right?” Davidson said. He said though the government signaling infrastructure is a priority is encouraging.

“This budget, it is a step in the right direction,” Saskatchewan Teachers Federation President Patrick Maze said.

Maze said infrastructure is important, but the teachers federation maybe should not have to advocate to have places to teach in.

“I think it’s appropriate for the government to make sure that there’s appropriate learning spaces for children,” he said.

“I also was just recently up North and they feel like they’ve been left out,” Maze said, noting housing is one concern. “Schools up North require substantial investment as well.”

“It’s kind of a double edge sword.”

Maze said it is nice to hear there are some investments but there should be more up in Northern Saskatchewan.

NDP Education Critic Carla Beck was on the school board for Regina Public when the consolidation request was first made for École St. Pius X and Argyle School.

“I’m happy for those in the communities that have been advocating for these rebuilds for so long,” Beck said.

“There are students who have gone through their own elementary career under the promise of a new school but never having seen one,” she said.

There is still a large backlog in the province around deferred maintenance to prevent deterioration in schools though, Beck said, and not enough funding to keep pace with the increase of students each year.

For Reyda, the announcement does mean relief but also frustration because one of her children will be in high school by the time the new school opens.

Minister Wyant said planning money is typically one year and construction money is the next as they need to find a large enough space to build the new school in Lakeview. Construction will hopefully start next year, Wyatt said.

Reyda also hopes parents and teachers will be involved.

“We’re excited and we also hoping the process for the design for the school will be inclusive,” she says.

While looking forward to potential new furniture, more tables, flexible seating, adequate washrooms and she said she hopes there is even a safe quiet place for students with anxiety.