Don’t close Central: Lehman

By Laurie Watt Barrie Advance Dec 01, 2010
BARRIE – Barrie’s incoming council made its first appearance in public Tuesday night, sending a clear message to public school board officials that Barrie needs to keep its downtown high school open.
Mayor-elect Jeff Lehman told the Simcoe County District School Board’s Barrie secondary accommodation review committee (ARC) the plan to close Central and then build a high school in the annexed lands in January isn’t workable.
It would doom two generations of high school students to years in portables.
“There are at least eight years of accommodating almost 1,000 students from Barrie Central (elsewhere). I don’t think anyone could argue that is the best for students,” he said, gaining applause from those of his council in attendance, including former Innisfil mayor and incoming Ward 9 Coun. Brian Jackson.
“It means a vacant site in the heart of our city and a major economic blow,” he continued. “We have Prince of Wales, Red Storey Field, Barrie Central… Keep the old school open while you rebuild. We could bring in partners. We can talk about the Fisher Auditorium.”
Built by Barrie in the 1960s, the 950-seat auditorium was the largest theatre north of Toronto. It still plays a critical role in the community’s arts scene with a variety of productions.
Lehman urged the board not to give up “a remarkable site in the centre of our city”, in hopes of obtaining a site in the next five years in the south. Instead, he suggested 2018 or 2020 would be more realistic.
Barrie’s growth management coordinator Eric Hodgins said a school site in the south won’t be available for at least seven years, as the city goes through a mandatory planning process made more stringent by the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan. Any OMB challenges would add delays.
“Provincial policy dictates before we start growing in the annexed lands, we have to bulk up old Barrie,” Hodgins said.
In Places to Grow, Ontario has directed Barrie to triple its downtown population, as well as provide a range of housing choices and work to ensure a “complete community”.
Lehman said Barrie regrets having torn down the old Dunlop Arena to make way for a new fire hall – and urged the school board to learn from that mistake.
At least, however, the city did not tear down the arena until a new recreation centre opened.
“Preferably,” he said, “you don’t take it down at all.”

Central decision due in January
BARRIE – Years of neglect, a predetermination to close Barrie Central and accusations of collusion were just some of the accusations made at the second public meeting of the Barrie secondary accommodation review committee Tuesday.
“The board has spent over $1.5 million on Innisdale, over $3 million on Barrie North, over $7 million on Eastview and $6.2 million at Bear Creek, and only $960,000 at Central,” said Grade 12 student Matt Chown.
“Why has so little been spent on Central (over the past five years) when it’s Central that’s needed it the most? The school has been left to deteriorate to make a case to close it.”
SCDSB building services manager Mark Twardowski disagreed.
“The building hasn’t been left to deteriorate. We have kept the building safe and operational. In the life cycle of key building systems, some are approaching the end and significant capital investment is required,” he said.
However, according to the board’s value assessment, Central would require only $5.8 million to be brought up to building code and accessibility standards.
Planner Al McNair suggested the board is rushing through the ARC process – especially as the board hasn’t even posted its five-year capital plan on its website. Unveiled Nov. 10, the plan was approved Nov. 24. Its No. 4 priority is a Barrie high school in 2015 – below a new Bradford elementary school, an Orillia secondary rebuild and a new Barrie elementary school. The project description presumes closing a high school and suggests relocating in the newly annexed area.
Parent Rob Burke went even further and suggested the board hasn’t done enough work on partnership possibilities for one to succeed.
“You’re at the 11th hour. December is a write-off,” he said, noting the ARC is to make a decision in January.
Board staff even denied a request for an additional “informal” meeting last month, after the last public meeting raised more questions and concerns.
In an email, ARC chairman (and superintendent) Steve Blake told members “it would be easy for participants in such a meeting to be accused of collusion”.
The meeting would have focused on partnership opportunities, other ideas to accommodate students and identify additional information required.

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