Saskatoon students will return to class on time despite high school blaze, board

Students at Bethlehem Catholic High School in Saskatoon are set to return to class on time, despite significant damage to the school caused by a fire on August 7. The Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools' board of education confirmed that classes will resume on September 2, though the situation will require adjustments.

Diane Boyko, chair of the school board, stated that while modifications will be necessary for some classes, the staff is prepared to ensure students have a successful academic year. The fire, which produced heavy smoke and flames, originated in a construction area attached to the school. Four new portable classrooms, which were under construction, were completely destroyed.

In addition to the destroyed portables, the school has 22 other portable classrooms, many of which sustained smoke and water damage. The board is currently assessing the extent of this damage, determining whether remediation or rebuilding is necessary. "All portables will be out of commission when school starts in September," Boyko noted.

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There’s going to be a little bit of modification on some of the classes, but we’re confident in our staff that they’re going to do a good job making sure that the students have what they need to have a successful year.

With all portables unusable, the board is working on a plan to house the school's 1,500 students within the main building. Specific details are still being finalized and will be communicated to students and families next week. Boyko expressed gratitude to the fire and emergency crews for their swift response, which she believes prevented more extensive damage to the main school structure.

Saskatoon police are investigating the fire, which they have deemed "suspicious." Currently, there is no estimate for the total cost of damages, though each of the destroyed new portables represented an investment of $700,000.

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We were blessed that the fire department came so quickly because it also mitigated a lot of what could have happened in the main body of the school.