(File photo/northeastNOW Staff)

By Cam Lee

Carrot River school

Carrot River to sell elementary school to daycare

Jun 5, 2024 | 3:42 PM

The future of the old elementary school in Carrot River is now clearer.

The town conducted a public call for proposals in May, with the proposals reaching the preliminary review stage by the recreation board.

Community Development Manager Miranda Blaber told northeastNOW the economic development board then narrowed it down to two proposals, with council making the final decision.

“Moving forward, once the municipality has ownership of the property, they will work with subdividing and sale of the property to Casper’s Early Learning Cooperative Centre so they can expand their daycare,” Blaber explained.

Blaber said childcare is sparse in many communities across Canada, and that includes Carrot River. She added that people based their decisions on where to live or where to relocate based, in part, on availability and quality of childcare.

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“Our current daycare was experiencing high levels on their waitlist, and by being already approved by the government to have an expansion, they were really just…waiting for a property to come along that would allow them to make that move.”

Blaber said the elementary school and part of the property will allow them to do just that, and the expansion will have a positive impact on the labour force, economic growth, and the children that receive quality care.

The daycare will be purchasing the facility and part of the property that has a large play area and parking. Blaber said the town will retain some of the grounds for residential development and greenspace.

The town is still in discussion with the North East School Division about transfer of the property, and Blaber said they hope to complete that transaction late this summer. Once that is complete, the town will be able to do some surveying of the property and work with the daycare to assess the area and determine the daycare’s needs. Blaber said there is not time line yet as to when the transfer to the daycare will be completed.

The community’s elementary school will not be used this fall, as students move into the K-12 facility that opened to students from Grades 5-12 earlier this year.

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Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK