The location of the proposed Jr./Sr. High school illustrates that fact clearly.

How both sides handle the demolition and reconstruction of the high school will greatly affect the lives of the community’s children over the short term - and potentially affect relations between educators and the municipality for years to come.

So it’s encouraging to hear both Mayor Richard Ireland and school board chair John Stitzenberger agree that rebuilding a new school on the current location is the most desirable. The town appears to be reaching out to the school board, offering the bowling green property as another temporary land option. Mixing politics and education is a dicey prospect.

Jasperites have already voiced their concern over a land swap proposal, which would displace the dog park - a community necessity in town. Municipal and school board officials represent these community members, and must keep that in mind before making a final decision. 

This week, both the town and the school board recognized that displacing high school students for a lengthy period of time is in no one’s best interest. Keeping the 250 high school students in a proper high school is desirable and the school board and the town have asked administration to draw up plans to make that happen. 

A possible scenario could result in a multi-phased construction approach, in which portions of the school are torn down and rebuilt while the students are shuffled into other rooms and portables. A lack of portables makes this difficult, however partnered with a resource-sharing initiative, there are ways of making this happen. 

A multi-phase approach worked at Lawrence Grassi Middle School in Canmore. For bonus points, portions of the school were recycled to refurbish a recreation centre in Banff. The case illustrates how construction projects can occur on a limited land base, with positive environmental results. 

However it isn’t the only option.

Education professionals preach the benefits of integrating school and community. Children are safer and more respectful of their community when they feel connected to it. Looking to non-traditional places of learning could help foster that connection. Could other corners of the community offer class space?

Both the school board and the municipality must work quickly to ensure the new school is build. There are few guarantees the money to build the new school will remain in the provincial budget. A careful, measured approach is required to reach a larger consensus, and build the school Jasperites deserve.

The town’s children are counting on it.