Frog Lake’s new school nears completion

A year after ground was broken by members of the Nation, Frog Lake’s new school is expected to be finished in the next few months.

“The new school is between 70 to 75 per cent finished right now, and tentatively we’re looking at it to be done and ready for occupancy by the end of January,” said Director of Education for the Frog Lake Education Authority, Clarance Faithful.

The Nation starting looking at building a new school due to concerns of overcrowding in the already existing school, while also looking at it as an opportunity to improve the services offered to students.

To that end the school is being built as an extension of the Nation’s band office and New Horizons Centre, which will allow for access to a double gymnasium and a planned community library.

Originally the plan was to have students move over into the new school earlier, but COVID-19 complications stopped that from happening.

“Everything got blocked with COVID,” said Faithful. “We were supposed to open for October 5th, but in terms of what we can do right now, we’re going to wait before bringing them in.

“We’re working with Health Canada and AHS to ensure that we can protect the students while they’re in transit between home and school.”

Originally the plan was to finish the rest of the school’s facilities after students arrives, but now everything will be finished by the time the school opens its doors.

The Nation’s current school will remain in use as an elementary school for students in grades K to 7.

“Education is where we need to go,” said Chief Greg Desjarlais a year ago to Lakeland Connect.

“We have to look at alternative ways to survive in education and competing for top jobs. That’s where I’d direct young people, to reach for those jobs on the top of the trees and to really have a vision and plan for themselves.”