Jason Unrau
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Nov 11/05) - With $64 million budgeted over five years, Inuvik will be on the receiving end of the largest capital project ever conceived in the territories - a joint elementary and high school facility, tentatively planned to open to students in the fall of 2010.

The proposed facility will replace the aging Sir Alexander Mackenzie and Samuel Hearne secondary schools.

"With the piling examination results, there was a need, from public works and services view, to push the SHSS replacement project ahead," explained Floyd Roland, Public Works and Services minister.

According to Roland, the original plan was to begin construction on a new elementary school to be finished for the 2008 school year. Samuel Hearne's replacement was to follow, expected to be complete and ready for occupancy in 2010.

However, following the closure of SHSS due to structural problems at the beginning of this school year, plans have now changed.

A request to public works from Education Culture and Employment put into motion a change in the GNWT capital plan regarding revised budgeting for the project. The motion was passed by the legislative assembly.

"We're planning for a joint facility, some of (the planning) may start this year and spill into next year," added Roland.

Both the elementary and high school replacements will be planned separately, with the goal of joining the two via a "larger gymnasium," Roland said.

"We're looking at the Weledeh concept," Roland said, referring to the K-12 school in Yellowknife, which shares a gym with St. PatrickOs high school.

"(Inuvik's schools) will still both be separate facilities, one elementary and one high school but by constructing the two together, you can have a larger gymnasium, common heating and central administration."

The planned location for the new super school is behind the existing high school and utilizing a portion of Curtis Field, where soccer and baseball fields currently sit.

"I think it's good for the whole community," said Mayor Peter Clarkson of the plans. "I think it will take a little while to design and build, but if we don't start, we won't get there."

When Roland was asked why students would have to wait until 2010 for the new school, the minister had several reasons.

"If you just took a plan off the shelf it, would probably take a year off (the current schedule), but we work with all the groups involved and there needs to be a process of input," he said, noting that the planning phase will involve the Nihtat Gwich'in Council, Inuvialuit Community Corp., Local Metis, representatives from early childhood, the town and, of course, public works and ECE.

"At the same time," he said, "if we had $60 million all at once, we could shorten the building time, but the costs would be driven up."

Public works hopes the repair work currently underway will extend the lifespan of each facility a minimum of six years.

"We're looking for at least six years, but hoping for 10," said Roland. "But we won't need 10."