| May 12, 2011


With over $15 million in the bank and a team of architects from Kingston and Toronto on the job, the design committee for the new JK-12 school at the current Sharbot Lake High School site held public consultations last week.

Ray Zabac from Shoalts and Zabac (Kingston), and Terry White from the Venton group (Toronto), were on hand, as were officials from the Limestone District School Board (LDSB)

“We have not looked at the site in too much detail, but from what we've seen and from the template provided to us, we believe this project is very workable,” said Ray Zabac. “Probably the best site to put the new school on is the parking lot. We realize this will create a parking issue for the year when the building is being constructed.”

Terry White presented some preliminary options that the architects have developed, which will fit an elementary wing, a secondary wing, and an administrative hub into the current parking lot. The architects have met with Central Frontenac Township staff to make sure the permitting process is completed in time, and they said there has been a high level of co-operation.

“They appear to be quite willing to work with us. For example, in order to fit everything in the building, we might be looking at a third storey in one section. The township has a height limit of 10.5 metres, which would limit us to two storeys, but the township says they can change that in this case. This is a kind of flexibility we don't usually see in the city,” said Terry White.

Among the school's attributes will be a full-sized double gym, which is lacking in the current building.

After hearing from the architects, and the school board administration, the 50 or so participants at the meeting split into groups to provide their input into the design and functions of the new building.

When the groups reported back, a number of issues were raised, including the lack of a music or dramatic arts room in the initial plans.

It was also mentioned that while the elementary and secondary sections of the school need to be distinct, the hope is that some of the advantages of the secondary school, such as shop and technical classrooms, would be available for the younger students.

“There should be a maximum amount of space for the students. Not too many architectural touches,” said Anne Howes, a community member on the design committee.

Another group was concerned that the school should accommodate both school needs and community needs, as well as the North Frontenac Little Theatre.

“It is important that the building is beautiful; that it reflects our landscape, our heritage, outdoor spaces, fields, garden, art work and sculpture,” said the reporter from one of the groups.

It was also mentioned that artefacts from the two schools that will be closing, Hinchinbrooke and Sharbot Lake Public School, be integrated into the new building.

The design committee will meet for the next few months behind closed doors and a draft design will be presented to a public meeting later in 2011.

The principals of the schools that will be integrated into the new building, including David Allison (Sharbot Lake Public School), Emily Yanch (Hinchinbrooke), and Heather Hyatt (Sharbot Lake High School), are all on the committee, as is the school trustee for the region, Anne Goodfellow. Members of the public with ideas and concerns about the new building are encouraged to contact them or their local parent council

However, as was pointed out by Peter Lynch, Manager of Financial Services for the LDSB, the basic parameters of the project have been set by the Ministry of Education.

“The template is for a 69,000 square foot building with five regular classrooms for secondary students, 10 smaller classrooms, a full-sized 6,400 square foot gymnasium, two tech rooms, science rooms; all the facilities a good JK-12 would offer,” Peter Lynch said

The budget for the project is $15.7 million.

“That's a lot of money but still quite a challenge because of the site and what needs to be in the school,” he added, “and with site and demolition costs taken out there is $13.9 million for construction.”

Although the idea of co-locating other community facilities with the school was mentioned when the project was first envisioned, any additions to the building would have to be funded by a business, community group, or the township, and thus far no one has come forward.

Peter Lynch said that the timelines for completing the design and doing all the preliminary work so a construction project can proceed in time to complete the project in two years and three months will be tight, but that the school board is planning to complete the project in time for the 2013-2014 school year.

“This year's grade 9 students will graduate out of the new school,” he said, “and there is a lot of excitement in the school about this.”

 

 

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