Whitehorse high school to get temporary gym

Yukon's education department will build a temporary structure for students at Whitehorse's F.H. Collins Secondary School to use for gym classes while a new high school is constructed.

Education minister Scott Kent said it will then be used by the Department of Highways and Public Works after the 2014-15 school year.

The Department of Education was planning to bus students to various facilities such as the Canada Games Centre for gym classes, but students and parents protested. They began a petition demanding a temporary structure.

Deputy minister Val Royle said concerns over informal use of the gym outside class-time came out of the blue at a meeting in November. Scores use the space during lunch hours, for example.

"We were quite surprised by concerns that parents had raised," she said.

No one will say what the new option will cost because it's going to public tender.

Public works assistant deputy minister Cynthia Tucker said it will cost more than busing students to sporting facilities around the city.

"We committed to a fiscally responsible solution," said Royle. "That's what we're delivering on. We've found a partner in Highways and Public Works that will cost-share this structure and will be able to use it after we're finished with it as a temporary gym facility."

The tender will be awarded next month. The education minister said there will be no delays in construction.