Plans are set for the new 700-student elementary school coming to Weyburn in 2021. It will include a pre-kindergarten program and a 51-space daycare centre, helping to shorten long waiting lists for the four current licensed daycares in the city.

Andy Dobson, manager of facilities for Southeast Cornerstone Public School Division, said the childcare space will be within the school, however, the division will not operate the daycare but will simply lease the space to a licensed operator. They will put out a request for proposals in early 2021.

"Then we will be working with the Early Years Branch to review whatever submissions we have to select a licensee or an operator of this childcare space," explained Dobson.

Dobson said a lot of thought was put into the design of the Pre-K to Grade 6 school.

"We have the daycare right there and then right beside it is the Pre-K program and then we have our Grade 1s, so they're all kind of in one little learning pod," shared Dobson. "There's also some sharing of some green spaces and playground equipment there too."

Dobson said they are excited to partner with the City's recreation and culture centre to build the Weyburn Elementary School, which will be connected to each other by a commons area featuring a kitchen servery and public washrooms. They are especially excited about the student's access to the facilities at Jubilee Park.

"Students will obviously have access to the amenities in the recreation centre and even more in Jubilee Park. Everything is there - there's ball diamonds set up, there's soccer pitches set up, there's tennis courts, the swimming pool is there. We had to bus the students to use all of those amenities and with this, we're right there, so it's going to be exciting."

The school will have green spaces of its own, and will even use equipment from the three existing schools set to close in favour of the new mega-school. There are three age-specific playgrounds planned for the new school.

The construction period for the project is 24 months and is set to begin next month at a cost of about $50 million, with half of that cost being covered by the school division and the other half being covered by the City of Weyburn for their recreation and culture centre. After the construction is complete in March 2021, Dobson said they will use the spring and summer to commission the site and move some of the equipment from Souris, Haig and Queen Elizabeth schools to the new school, as these schools will be closed.

"So, we're looking for an opening date of September '21. And then Queen Elizabeth School will come down in the fall of '21 because that will be redeveloped into further green space and parking for the Weyburn Comp," explained Dobson.

There are no plans yet for Souris and Haig schools when they are closed in 2021.

"Souris is in very good shape. Haig, the gymnasium and the newer portion of it is in good shape. The older section, obviously, there is some foundation issues."

He said options for the old schools include brokering a deal with the City or tendering the buildings and properties for sale.