by Jennifer Pritchett
Northern News Services

NNSL (May 16/97) - Yellowknife's public school district French students are finally getting a new school, although it won't be ready for at least two years.

The district's board was recently told by Education Minister Charles Dent that $3 million in federal funds has been set aside for a new Ecole Allain St. Cyr.

The school is now housed in portables on the Sissons schoolyard.

District superintendent Ken Woodley said that it was a couple of years coming and he is now waiting for Heritage Canada to sign the money over the GNWT.

"We are waiting for an agreement between the federal government and the territorial government," he said. "Then we'll start the usual process for tendering architects."

The $3 million will be used strictly for the construction of the school, expected to be built as an extension to William McDonald school.

While it's too early for Woodley to comment on possible designs, he did say that it would likely save the board some money in energy costs because the new school would "obviously be more efficient" than the portables the school is now using.

He added that ground wouldn't likely be broken for the project before next summer.