Concerns about progress at the Two Hills Mennonite School construction site have resurfaced following media coverage of the project, its hurdles, and comments made by Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills Wildrose MLA Dave Hanson, last week.
The official opposition has been criticizing the NDPs decision to move forward with the school at its current site, even though the site is “not ideal” for construction.
The previous Progressive Conservative government approved the site, and issues began to arise when an artesian well was discovered on the property, along with low levels of methane gas.
Last week, Infrastructure Minister Brian Mason confirmed the current NDP government would be pressing ahead with the build.
“The NDP is trying to build a school on a slough, and it just isn’t working,” said Hanson, in a media release sent from the Wildrose last week, following a column from the Edmonton Journal’s Paula Simons on the subject. “The time is now to change course and choose a better site.”
Hanson doesn’t believe pouring more money into the project, which is projected at being $10 million over budget, is in the best interests of the families and students.
“While it may cost the government more to start over on a new site, it is the only alternative to building on the current site which has been proven to be unsafe,” said Hanson. “If you’re going to do a job, do it right.”
According to Tracy Larsen, communications with Alberta Infrastructure, the Two Hills Mennonite School construction cost to date is about $10.4 million.
St. Paul Education Regional Division (SPERD) board chair Heather Starosielski says that according to the latest information from the Government of Alberta, the school is expected to be ready for occupancy in January of 2017, with the parking lot and landscaping to be done in October of the same year.
Starosielski says the current site was selected after a value management study took place in 2011. The people that chose the site included several consultants and representatives from SPERD, the town and county of Two Hills, and parents.
She went on to say, “As the local municipality (Town of Two Hills) was not in a position to provide a new serviced site and the Government of Alberta does not fund site purchases, access roads or servicing, it was determined that remaining on the existing site was the most suitable option. This was a decision reached by all of the stakeholders and was not made by any one separate organization.”
Starosielski says the community, staff and students of Two Hills Mennonite School have all been very patient, and the board would like to acknowledge the principals, teachers and staff members who have continued to demonstrate “ingenuity and tolerance as they work in the midst of construction and crowded conditions.”
She adds that despite the challenges, a recent start-up meeting has been held to create a Two Hills Mennonite school council, and early discussions about the future playground for the school have started.
“The board is grateful to the Mennonite community for being cooperative and accommodating during these growing pains,” says Starosielski.
In response to the Wildrose stating the site was “unsafe,” Starosielski says SPERD inquired directly with the Ministers of Education and Infrastructure a handful of times in 2014, inquiring about the suitability and safety of the site.
Trustees have been assured by both departments that the government has consulted several engineering consultants and the original design was modified to implement their recommendations, and that the government is “committed to providing a safe environment for the students and staff,” she stated.
This fall, the school received two modular classrooms to address enrollment pressures. These two modulars will be incorporated into the new school design, increasing the capacity of the school to 600 students.
Being that the provincial government is comfortable in its findings and solutions provided by the building consultants, SPERD is standing by the decision to continue building on the current site, says Starosielski.
