There is much handwringing about the future of FH Collins Secondary.
The dark, dilapidated maze-like school has graduated more than a few generations of Yukoners.
A handful of those graduates still live in town. And many have fond memories of the place.
But it has reached the end of its useful life.
So what is the government to do?
There are three options: renovate the existing school, tear it down and build a new school on the FH site or build another on a new site, presumably in Copper Ridge.
But there are really only two solutions.
Building a new school in Copper Ridge isn’t a great option.
True, the population of the area has exploded and that’s where most of the students are.
But it’s not the best place for the high school.
The existing FH site, alongside the Yukon River within walking distance of downtown is too good to abandon.
And building a fourth high school is clearly not an option.
So the government should keep the high school where it is.
That leaves two decisions: renovate or build a new school.
The Education department has spent $69,000 on Victoria-based consultants to figure out the problem.
Here it goofed.
Anybody familiar with HGTV knows what it should have done.
It should have recruited tough-nut builder Mike Holmes of Holmes on Homes fame.
He’d make it right. (RM)