After four years of uncertainty, the future of Giscome elementary school is about to be cast in concrete.
Set against the spectacular backdrop of still-frozen Eaglet Lake and the snow-capped McGregor mountain range, work will soon begin on a $2.4 million project to replace the two trailers that now serve 23 students, ranging from kindergarten to Grade 7.
The new school, expected to be ready for September, will consist of a pair of modular-design buildings and a gymnasium/activity centre.
Friday's ceremonial groundbreaking came as a relief for the community of 370 residents who have been waiting in anticipation ever since the new school project was announced by the education ministry seven months ago.
The Willow River-Upper Fraser (Area F) regional district, with help from community grants made available by the province, will contribute $556,000 to fund the activity centre for school sports and phys-ed classes. It will also provide a multi-purpose faciity for community groups.
"We are so happy to be getting a new school," said Area F regional director Kevin Dunphy. "You have to have a school for a community to grow and we have students who are looking at, if you compare time and distance, driving to Vanderhoof from Prince George every day to go to school. That's why we need it."
The school, located 41 kilometres northeast of Prince George, will serve families living in Upper Fraser, Sinclair Mills, Longworth, and Willow River.
"We have been working on this for four years and it may not be exactly how everyone pictured it but we are getting it, and this is a great step forward for us," said Giscome parent advisory council chair Faellen Brandner. "We purchased a new playground there a year-and-a-half ago and that doesn't have to be moved and we have the fields there. The school staff and parent advisory council have done an excellent job, with no gymnasium, keeping the kids well-rounded and educated."
Brandner said there was some disappointment in the community a suitable site could not be found seven kilometres to the west in Willow River, where most families live. That would have required construction of a 700-metre road, which would have added an estimated $1.7 million to the price tag.
Uncertainty over the future of the school resulted in several families leaving the area and Brandner expects the population will increase slightly once a more permanent school is in place.
Some residents are concerned the school and adjoining property will experience the same flooding problems that plagued the old school building, leading to mold issues and health concerns which forced its closure in 2009 and demolition soon after. The school site is a half-kilometre from Bateman Creek, which feeds into Eaglet Lake. Plans are to build a sewage lagoon and with the water table already close to the surface, there are concerns the lagoon won't be adequately protected.
"There has been lots of thought and study that's gone into this by the school district and what can be done to alleviate that problem," said Dunphy. "We wouldn't be building there if that was going to be problem. The fields around there get under water but flooding hasn't been a problem with the existing school but that has all been worked into the plans."
The modular school buildings have an estimated lifespan of 40 years.
Giscome is part of School District 57, which now has about 13,500 students. The Giscome project is part of a $16.9 million provincial program to replace rural schools in B.C. The government has also announced school upgrades in the Nicola-Similkameen, Nechako Lakes and Nisga'a school districts.The province also announced a $5.28 million five-classroom modular improvement project for Babine elementary/secondary school in Granisle, 325 km northwest of Prince George. The new buildings will be similar the the design of the Giscome classrooms. Each room will have high ceilings and several windows to take advantage of natural lighting.There are currently 33 students enrolled in the school."The Babine Elementary-Secondary school replacement has been a high priority for me," said Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad. "I know the installation of new modular classroom space means a great deal to Granisle and Tachet reserve families, and I'm delighted that students will be educated in a safe and bright learning environment."
