The Department of Education is investigating more options for a temporary gym structure for use during construction of the new F.H. Collins Secondary School.

The department has an $180,000 budget for a temporary structure, which must include the costs to heat it, communication co-ordinator Chris Madden said in an interview today.

The quote the department was given for a tent alone was far outside that budget, at $1.3 million.

But Madden said possible partnerships are being looked at.

The issue was raised during Monday's question period in the legislature by Jim Tredger, the NDP critic for Education.

"Not having the use of the gym for 2 1/2 years is an extremely bad option. The lack of planning and the lack of consideration for students are unacceptable,” said Tredger.

"Will the minister of Education reconsider options and look at options to provide an on-site facility for the students?”

Education Minister Scott Kent responded that "as a result of the concerns that were raised on November 22, we're looking into fiscally responsible options for a temporary gym at F.H. Collins during the construction period.” (A public information session on the project was held on the evening of Nov. 22.)

"Removing the old gym was necessary for the new construction to occur on the current site of F.H. Collins, which was the recommendation that emerged from extensive consultations with the community that was done by the building advisory committee,” Kent said.

"Again, it's a very exciting and ambitious plan and programming, and it had to be located on that site for a number of reasons.”

Madden suggested today that students and parents should consider the alternative options for physical education with an open mind.

Some of those choices are "fantastic,” he said.

They provide the chance to instill in students the value of active living by showcasing the many local opportunities such as hiking, cycling, snowshoeing, skiing and more, he said.

Madden noted that if he was a high school student, he would be thrilled at the thought of spending his physical education class up at Mt. McIntyre or snowshoeing the Hidden Lakes trails.

But Tredger noted in the house that leaving the school grounds for physical education would reduce the amount of activity students actually received.

Using the option of busing students to the Canada Games Centre for the class, Tredger said he "did some math.

"The drive to the Canada Games Centre is another 12 minutes. To unload the bus, three minutes. For students to change into sports gear and get on to the court, another five minutes. To change when finished, another five minutes. Total: 25 minutes.

"That is if everything goes well. The return trip is another 25 minutes, Mr. Speaker.

"That is a total of 50 minutes out a 72-minute class. Even with double-booking, students — over one third of the class — will miss out for two years. Where is the sense in that?” asked Tredger, a former school principal.

The new school, currently budgeted at $55 million, will replace the one which opened in 1963.

See letter.