News / Local firms could help build new AHS
LOCAL construction firms have been invited to meet government procurement officers at the end of this month to hear how to get involved in building a new Anderson High School in Lerwick.
The Scottish government has already offered to pay two thirds of the cost of a new secondary school at Lower Staney Hill, likely to cost around £30 million.
The Scottish Futures Trust funding will be part of a larger package to help six north of Scotland local authorities collaborate to build new schools through the Hub North Scotland, which aims to minimise costs through bulk purchase.
Local building companies have complained they are excluded from such contracts, but now they have been invited to meet Hub North officials when they visit the isles on 29 and 30 November.
Shetland Islands Council children’s services director Helen Budge said there was a commitment to involve the local industry in the supply chain.
The government itself has said builders could be on site within 12 to 18 months.
The council has already set aside £12 million towards building a new school, far less than the £50 million it was on the verge of spending on a new school at The Knab in 2009.
Meanwhile SIC education staff are working on a range of proposals to tackle the challenge of saving £3 million a year from the schools budget through the Blueprint for Education.
Councillors asked them to look at alternatives to current proposals to close four secondary and five primary schools, which have local communities up in arms.
These include a “hub and spoke” model sharing staff between schools, shifting S4 pupils from junior high schools to the two high schools in Brae and Lerwick, and using video conferencing and the internet for remote learning.
Some head teachers are being asked to set up a pilot study into the use of digital technology and video conferencing.
Budge said: “We are considering all the other options that are being spoken about by the community, and we will look into any other options that come up as we were tasked to do by councillors.”
In an update on progress, she said head teachers have held talks on the Blueprint this month, all parent councils will meet on 15 November to discuss the issue, while on 19 November senior SIC managers will meet to examine the council-wide implications of redesigning the school estate.
A suggestion to transfer secondary pupils from Lerwick to either Sandwick or Brae has gained little traction, after initial examination suggested it would be expensive and create complications.
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