Barrie city councillors rejected a proposal by the Simcoe County District School Board on Monday, which means the board will have to go back to the drawing board for its plans for a new high school in the city’s south end.
The issue councillors have with the school is its proposed location. City planners want it built near the Mapleview Drive and Prince William Way intersection, but the school board had proposed building the school farther south on the property, away from the intersection and near a future subdivision.
The school board's rationale is student safety. However city planners say the proposal doesn't meet the city's policies for the development of the annexed lands.
"The school board was originally informed in January of the staff position,” says Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman. “It's a real shame that if the change had been made, the decision was informed to the board, we would have seen a building happening down there by now.”
"We believe that those were guidelines and we've had adhere to working with the staff to create an absolutely wonderful school building and I’m really disappointed," says Kathi Wallace, SCDSB director of education.
The project has been delayed several times in the past. The board was hoping to have the high school opened by September 2018, but Wallace wouldn't say if Monday’s outcome means further delays.
This issue will be back before council next week for final approval. In the meantime, the school board will re-evaluate the proposal with its planning staff and trustees.
