News / Unfortunate timing for school upgrade
SHETLAND Islands Council on Thursday sanctioned up to £100,000 to construct additional social space at Lerwick’s Anderson High school.
Councillors said the investment was part of an ongoing improvement plan at the existing school.
Investment is needed to maintain the old building, after councillors threw out plans to build a new school on the site in 2009. Plans for a new high school to go up at Lower Staney Hill will not be completed before August 2017.
The decision was criticised by the parent council of the Scalloway school, whose 120 pupils will be transferred to Lerwick unless the government dismisses the SIC’s decision to close it down and save £700,000.
Councillor Jonathan Wills told the services committee that the AHS parent council and the school’s head teacher Valerie Nicolson had insisted that the improvements were part of a long term programme of work.
Councillor Alistair Cooper said that ”as usual” the council had ended up on the back foot, and councillor Cecil Smith added that the timing of the publication of this report had been “unfortunate”.
But education spokesman Bill Manson said the investment was a consequence of not having a new Anderson High at the Knab as of 2012, as initially planned.
“We have to make sure the existing school is fit for purpose. This would have come to you regardless of whether or not we had decided to close the Scalloway junior high school,” he said.
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.
Already a supporter? Sign in to hide this message.
