A $79,000 report on the future of schools in Whitehorse offers little in the way of new information and will likely lead to more studies, critics say.

Eric Fairclough, the Mayo-Tatchun MLA and education critic for the Liberals, said this morning he is disappointed with the study on education infrastructure, released Friday.

The sole-sourced report, titled School Facilities Study, was drafted by Hold Fast Consultants Inc. of Victoria and is dated June 25, 2007.

Hold Fast stated in its study that it reviewed and made recommendations for the future facility needs for a new school in the Copper Ridge subdivision and F.H.. Collins and Porter Creek Secondary Schools.

The report concluded that F.H. Collins needs to be either rebuilt or refurbished, that any decision on a Copper Ridge school should be put on hold for five years, and that school boundaries determining what facility a child should attend should be reviewed.

Fairclough said he feels the report is too narrowly focused, doesn't provide any direction and was kept too secret.

'First of all, I thought this was supposed to be a report on Whitehorse schools. It's not; it's a report on a Copper Ridge school and F.H. Collins.

'I really think it's a do-nothing report. There's no direction for the government to do anything,' he said.

'I feel there's not a lot in the report and the minister (Patrick Rouble) had it in his hands during the last sitting.

'The minister decided that he didn't want to release it.'

Fairclough said he would also like to see some action on the Education Act Review and the Education Reform Project.

Steve Cardiff, the MLA for Mount Lorne and the education critic for the NDP, said he feels the study highlights the fact the Yukon Party government has been playing politics with education.

He said the Yukon Party government's 2005 byelection campaign promise to have a school built in Copper Ridge was based on no facts or figures.

'Basically, it's saying don't build a school.'

'To me, what it highlights the promise they made to build a school in Copper Ridge was politically motivated. It wasn't based on fact.'

Cardiff said much of what has been released are figures the Department of Education already had.

'I'm not saying there's not some good information in it, but a lot of the information (including student enrolment projections) we already knew.'

He said he would like to see the school boundary areas studied as soon as possible.

According to Hold Fast's report, compiled by Bruce McAskill and Jerry Mussio, the decision to base the report on F.H. Collins and a proposed school in Copper Ridge was made after it was determined Porter Creek Secondary School, which opened in 1982, would be able to handle increases in student numbers as that neighbourhood grows.

Information was collected from meetings with ministry staff, public meetings, opinion surveys of area residents, analysis of student enrolments and Yukon demographics, and consultations with the Copper Ridge Advisory Committee, according to Hold Fast.

The consultants' report states the territory's population is aging and there will be a decline in the school-aged population over the next 10-15 years, in line with national trends.

A further study on the future needs of Whitehorse's school infrastructure, which was running 1,237 seats under capacity as of November 2006, should be undertaken, the report advices.

'In 1997, 4,777 students were enrolled in Whitehorse schools. By 2006, 3,698 students were enrolled, a drop of 17 per cent over the past nine years. By 2020, it is estimated that 3,700 students will be enrolled in Whitehorse schools

'It is estimated that Grade 12 enrolment will be down by 33 per cent from 2002, while kindergarten enrolments are projected to increase by 33 per cent.

'If the assumptions underlying the high growth model prevail, these higher kindergarten numbers signal increases in overall student enrolments for the 2020-2030 period.'

Hold Fast's report also states that F.H.. Collins should receive priority once further studies are completed, a review of the boundaries between Elijah Smith and Takhini Elementary Schools should be completed, and that a decision on Copper Ridge school be put on hold.

'The government has announced plans to build a new school in Copper Ridge and to renovate or rebuild F.H. Collins Secondary School.

'It would be an error, in our judgment, to build a new school or launch a major renovation to the existing buildings without completing a review of the school's mission and how it relates to other schools in Whitehorse.

'It should be clear that moving ahead with these projects, in a period of declining enrolments, could have a negative impact on other Whitehorse schools. It is advisable to proceed with caution.'

The cost for refurbishing F.H. Collins in 1996 dollars, according to the report, is between $10.3 million and $12.1 million. The school opened in 1963.

The cost for building a new school, also listed in 1996 dollars, is between $15.3 million and $15.9 million.

'Construction costs have tripled since 1996, from $1,400 per square metre to $4,500 per square metre,' the report states.

'Most residents who responded to the questionnaire would prefer to see a new building built on the present site rather than refurbishing the existing structure.'

Rouble was not available to comment on the report.