Inuvik (Oct 27/06) - The site for a new "super school" in Inuvik has been chosen, but there are concerns about how construction will affect summer recreation in the community.

During a public meeting last week, presentations were made by NWT Public Works and the architects who designed the new building plan.

The school is to replace Sir Alexander Mackenzie School (SAMS) and Samuel Hearne Secondary School (SHSS).

Originally expected to cost $60 million, new construction estimated have lowered the project cost to about $45 million.

Originally, a new school was planned to replace SAMS, but when structural problems were identified SHSS in late 2005, the government decided to replace both facilities.

Recreation concerns centered on the fact the chosen site is over the baseball diamond and half of the soccer field, adjacent to the secondary school on Kingmingya Road.

Don Kindt, a consultant from Yellowknife who has worked on projects including the joint St. Patrick high school and Weledeh elementary project, said the sports fields would be out of commission during the three-year construction period.

An alternative could be to find a temporary replacement site, he added.

A recreational area is planned where SAMS sits, but that can only be constructed once the school is demolished.

Kindt said the project planners would need to work with the town office to determine possible temporary alternatives for the recreation facilities.

During the meeting, the public was provided a quick overview about previous plans and locations for the schools.

"We wanted to show people how we reached our current stage of planning," said Terry Sharpe, senior project officer for the GNWT Department of Public Works.

The elementary and secondary schools would be connected by a shared gymnasium and library. All other services will be separate.

The models that were presented were only the beginning of planning and focused on the main elements of the schools.

"All the rest of the classes and rooms will be focused on at a later time," said Kindt.

"Right now, we want to look at the placement of the gym, library and location of the building."

Kindt said the location was chosen because the development in town is shifting northwest.

"The new site for the schools would be in the middle of town," he said.

The building was designed to cater to a larger population, said Kindt.

"The plans are for the future. If we tried to fill the new school with the existing students, there would be many empty classrooms."

The planning team fielded other comments and concerns from the community during the consultation.

One person asked how much of the neighbouring tree area would be cut down for construction.

Kindt responded that about 60 feet of the wooded area behind the school would be cleared.

The library was also discussed. Originally, planners wanted to merge the community library with the new school's library.

Town council previously turned down that suggestion, but new Mayor Derek Lindsay spoke up and invited the public to make their case to the new council on Nov. 6.

Paul Watters was concerned about the old SAMS building once the new school was finished.

Public Works employee Barry Ward said there is money in the plan to tear down the old building and treat the soil for the new lot.

Dennis Parsons, superintendent of the Beaufort Delta Divisional Board of Education, took the floor during the meeting to address some of the concerns.

"The opportunity to replace both schools in any town comes rarely," said Parsons.

"The plan is for this school to be used for the next 40 years."

Parsons also said both schools would not lose identity as two separate institutions.

"They will be separated and will look different from each other," he said.

More meetings will be held in the community once more planning and structure is given to the project.