There’s renewed hope for a high school in Wasaga Beach.
At a meeting of the school board tonight, Mayor Cal Patterson says a staff report on accomodation for high school students in our area will recommend building a new secondary school between Wasaga and Elmvale.
Patterson says the staff report recommends 3 district high schools: one in Midland so the one in Penetanguishene would close, one in Collingwood and one in Elmvale/Wasaga Beach. Once the Wasaga/Stayner school is built, the collegiate in Stayner would close.
The report goes to the Special Facility Standing Committee of the school board Tuesday night at the Education Centre in Midhurst.
He tell us then he and members of council will be one of likely many delegations to present to the board trustees on May 14th.
Patterson says he will definitely back up the recommendations made by the board staff.
He adds he’s happy with the staff report findings, as opposed to the Accomodation Review Committee recommendations. The ARC suggested there be no new schools or school closings, meaning no high school for Wasaga’s students.
The Simcoe County District School Board will make its decision June 17th.
As for a timeline, Patterson says he doesn’t know when a high school might become reality if that’s what the board decides. But he says he and council will meet in the next few weeks to discuss how to help facility a school being built, including how best to work with Elmvale and the school board.
Patterson tells 97-7 The Beach some locations being considered include the Sports Park and Baywood at the extreme east end of town; a site set aside for an elementary school which could be used for a high school.