The Montessori school at Gladstone elementary will have its major playground structure relocated from its former Highglen location before the new school year begins in September, according to School District 57 secretary-treasurer Allan Reed.
"At the regular meeting of the Board of Education last Tuesday, June 27, the board was advised that every effort would be made to ensure that this major playground would be available for students at the Gladstone site when school opened in September," said Reed in an e-mail. "We are currently working with the contractor to establish a schedule to move the major playground to the Gladstone site."
The Highglen school was destroyed by fire last April and the Montessori program has been based at Gladstone since then. News that the playground equipment would be moving to Gladstone was met with mixed emotions by the Prince George Montessori Education Society board.
"Originally we didn't actually push for them to move the playground last year because a lot of people were still hoping they would rebuild the school," said Melanie Noullett, board member of the society. "We thought that if we had them move permanent things then it's less likely that they'd rebuild at Highglen so that's why we didn't push for it as a parent board."
The board members then realized that even if they did rebuild it would take a significant amount of time, added Noullett - two or three years even.
"And that's too long for the kids to go without a playground," said Noullett.
There were more definitive emotions for one neighbourhood resident who expressed his concerns about the removal of playground equipment at the former Highglen elementary location to school district staff, board members, a local city councillor and local media outlets.
"I was wondering why the playground equipment from Highglen elementary is being torn out," asked Perry Cook in an e-mail. "What community consultation has been done with local residents? Workers yesterday (June 25) removed a small basketball court that we would flood in the winter and use as a skating rink, monkey balls and a slide."
Cook continued in the e-mail to say that it looked like a really large playground set and large basketball court will be removed as well.
The response by e-mail from secretary-treasurer Allan Reed, CA, from School District 57 said it's all part of the demolition of Highglen elementary school.
"The other minor playground equipment that is being removed no longer meets current Canadian Standards Association (CSA) safety standards," said Reed in his e-mail. "The Board of Education is guided by its policy 7223, playgrounds. Regulation 1 confirms that the prime consideration for the equipment and structure of playgrounds is the safety of children. Also as required by the Ministry of Education's capital project for the demolition of the former Highglen elementary school the site is being returned to its natural state as it is no longer an active school. "
