Public meeting to discuss future of high school leaves something to be desired

The public meeting on Feb. 19 to discuss the future of Jasper’s high school left some residents seeking an additional possibility beyond those presented.

More than 100 Jasperites attended the meeting to discuss the possibility of the Municipality of Jasper swapping land with the Grande Yellowhead Regional Division school board (GYRD) in order to build a new high school.

Participants were presented with two options. First was a land swap between GYRD and the Municipality of Jasper and the establishment of a new Jasper Jr./Sr. High School where the dog park currently lies, and the second option was for GYRD to build the school on their own land which runs along Geikie Street between Pyramid Avenue and Elm Avenue.

Residents seemed unhappy with the two options and questioned the presenters about the possibility of alternatives. Mayor Richard Ireland explained that people should not feel “constrained” to the options, which were outlined on a map, and that the Municipality was “not married to any option.”

John Stitzenberger, GYRD chair, discussed the overarching need for a new “modernized” school and ruled out the possibility of renovating the current high school as there was little difference in the cost and would mean too much disruption for the students.

While GYRD believes the dog park was the best site for the school, Stitzenberger said that no matter what decision the Municipality reached the board was committed to giving students the “facility they need to continue to succeed.”

The Jasper Greenspace Committee chair Carol Smith addressed the meeting and suggested the establishment of a school on the current dog park would be a “contradiction” to the green space vision plan that was adopted by council in 2004.

She noted that to erect a school in this space would mean the elimination of some old-growth trees and was concerned about how the land on which the school currently sits would be developed.

Joe Polisuk, development officer of Jasper National Park, presented participants with the issues and extra costs related to re-zoning and subdividing as well as the other requirements by Parks in the development of a school, such as parking and staff accommodation.

Following the question period, which at times became a little heated, the public had its say by discussing amongst the tables, of six to 10 people, and writing down advantages and disadvantages of the two options. The opinions will be amalgamated and passed on to the municipality.

Afterwards, one advantage or disadvantage of either option was taken from each of the tables and then tables were given an opportunity to give one piece of feedback about either option.

One-third of the tables made a suggestion that a third option was a better alternative, which generally referred to the new school being erected on GYRD land somewhere between where the Elementary school and where the High School currently stands.

Facilitator Rob Hagg, a community development officer from the province’s Department of Culture and Community Spirit, explained the night was an opportunity for residents to “listen and contribute” and not for decision or voting.

He said the Municipality of Jasper would use all of the information gathered from the evening to make a decision about whether or not they would agree to the land swap that was suggested by GYRD. Mayor Ireland said it was too early to speak about any plans, as the municipality is still waiting on feedback from Hagg.