The Simcoe County District School Board will submit a revised plan to the city for a new high school in Barrie’s south end.
Trustees approved a motion at a board meeting Wednesday night.
The revised plan is a step to try and break an impasse between the city and school board, as both sides dispute where the school should be built
The plan includes an additional building that will be built on the north end of the site at Mapleview Drive and Prince William Way. The building will be used for a learning centre, but the high school would still be built as planned on the south end of the site.
The city has recently voted in favour of bringing a mediator in to help the two sides come to an agreement, but the board believes this dispute can be solved without a third party.
"Our lawyer at the last meeting made it very clear that proposed mediation slash arbitration from the city was not the path to go," said John Dance, superintendent of facility services. “We hope this revised site plan will meet the needs of the city, our needs and then we won’t need to go that route."
The board purchased the 23 acre property near the intersection of Mapleview Drive and Prince William Way, with the intention of building the school away from the intersection due to cost and safety. However, the city wants the school built on Mapleview Drive.
“It’s my hope that the board will submit a revised plan that meets the City’s planning policies and guidelines," Jeff Lehman, Mayor of Barrie. I’m encouraged that they are rethinking their site plan and hope this ultimately gets us past this dispute, which has held up this badly needed school for too long.”
The board plans to submit the revised plan to the city in February. If approved, the board says the school will be operational by September 2018.
