Amherstburg Town Councillor Michael Prue felt someone had to speak out about flaws in the design for a new high school in his town.
"This does not make sense to us," he claimed to BlackburnNews.com.
When the design came to Amherstburg Town Council Tuesday night, Prue said it was missing a third gymnasium, an autobody shop, classrooms for alternative education. Most shockingly, he said the plan was missing even some basic items.
"Things like paint on the walls have been cut. Things like grass and sod outside have been cut. Programs have been cut. A gymnasium has been cut. The list is enormous," said Prue.
The new high school will take in students from both General Amherst High School and Western Secondary School. It will on a 15-acre parcel of land on Simcoe Street between Fryer Street and Victoria Street South.
Prue said councillors have worked with the Greater Essex County District School Board and provincial officials on the project for the past few years. He suspects the province decided to cut some costs, but a spokesman for the school board wrote that is not the case.
"There have been no cuts," wrote Scott Scantlebury. "The funding is the same as originally announced. The nature of the budget and design submitted to the Ministry of Education for approval is the most prudent course."
However, in a second email, Scantlebury added, "there have been concessions made to try and stay within budget. We almost never use sod. We usually plant our grass and finish work is always flexible."
Town council decided to submit a letter to Education Minister Stephen Lecce, Premier Doug Ford, and area MPPs.
"The town council knows this is not our issue. It's the school board's issue, but we want to do whatever we can to help," admitted Prue.
The school is expected to open in time for the 2022-2023 school year.
