Latest talks between provincial officials and the school board about the proposed Bold Center high school put the project back on track, says the superintendent of the Northern Lights School Division.
Roger Nippard was recently concerned that the school board wasn’t involved enough with the design process, and that the community’s vision of the school wasn’t going to be realized. He said he was unhappy with the proposed design, and with the process that would let the board participate with only 30 per cent of the design. Because of some of the disagreements, the deadline for the project’s first blueprint was extended.
But in the latest meeting with Alberta Infrastructure, officials were willing to revisit the idea of putting the high school library above the Bold Center library and look at other ideas as well, Nippard said.
"It gives us a school that's more aesthetically pleasing and functional for the students," he said. "We'll have an opportunity to do the project the way we have envisioned."
Overall, Nippard said the meeting was a productive and positive one.
"The project is back on track from my point of view," he said. "I'm optimistic."
The Bold Center high school project is a unique position because of all the parties involved. Typically school boards build their own schools, but Alberta Infrastructure is funding this one. Alberta Education is also involved in the process, and because it is being attached to the Bold Center, the county is also involved in the project and will have to fund some of the developments.
And although Nippard said he appreciates the opportunity to have all these sides involved, it can also cause some "hiccups."
MLA addresses school board’s concerns
Local MLA and former Minister of Infrastructure Ray Danyluk addressed the school board’s concerns during his visit to Lac La Biche last Wednesday.
“I told you right off the bat, you were not going to get a school for 1,000 people that didn’t have the aspect of high performance classes attached,” Danyluk said. “It is not going to happen.”
He assured the board that the school will be a good one, and that they will be pleased with the design.
“By no means are we looking at a classroom or a school that is not of the highest ranking,” Danyluk said. “We don’t build them.”
He added that even though the school may not get absolutely everything the community had wanted or envisioned, it is still going to be a great facility.
“I guarantee you that ninety nine per cent of you will be very happy with whatever comes at the end of the day,” Danyluk said.
He added that having all these parties involved complicates the process to build the unique project.
“It’s not quite as easy to find a solution,” Danyluk said. “You will be frustrated at times because of all the parties involved.”
He also encouraged the school board to communicate with him more often if there are issues, and he will negotiate on their behalf if needed.
“You guys have to tell me what’s going on,” he said. “I’m no good to you if I don’t know what’s happening.”
Nippard said that the school board appreciates the MLA’s involvement with the project.
"Danyluk has always been accessible, we've always had talks with him," Nippard said. "He's been a huge supporter of the new high school project."
