Dez Loreen
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Sep 12/05) - Samuel Hearne secondary school was inspected and declared structurally sound a year before it was closed because of extensive problems with its foundation.

"The building had been approved, and had been certified for one year, with yearly inspections due," said Brian Lemax, regional superintendent for the department of public works.

Lemax said that a different firm was used last year to inspect foundations at Samuel Hearne.

"There did not appear to be that many rotted pilings at the time of inspection; blocks were placed around the bad ones," he said.

Annual inspections at other Northern schools have not turned up serious foundation problems.

Lemax said "the schools are safe, and there is no need for concern."

Samuel Hearne failed to meet foundation requirements at its annual inspection in August.

"The pilings were worse than we had thought. The fire marshal has closed the building indefinitely," said Lemax.

There were many questions but few answers when parents met with government and education district officials Sept. 6.

"All I can do is apologize for this situation," said Floyd Roland, public works minister and MLA for Inuvik Boot Lake.

"We will address everything that needs to be done," he said. "Unfortunately that's where we find ourselves."

In July, a contractor was hired to examine the more than 400 pilings that comprise the foundation for Samuel Hearne.

Roland said that ice from last winter had to be completely melted in order to do a thorough inspection, which didn't get underway until July.

The contractor reported Aug. 22 that 88 per cent of the pilings were in a state of deterioration and that almost half were 50 per cent rotten.

Public works replaced pads on 82 compromised pilings last year, but this summer, the inspection team refused to guarantee the structural integrity of the building.

"We could not safely put staff and students back in the school," said Roland.

It will take at least three months to make the necessary repairs.

In the meantime, the Beaufort Delta Education Council, District Education Authority and Samuel Hearne staff are looking for alternate classroom space for more than 400 students.

Completed in 1967, Samuel Hearne has had a rough ride in the past 18 months.

The foyer roof collapsed in April 2004 and just before classes were due to resume, an arsonist set fire to the gymnasium.