Saving historic Moncton High School worth the money: Tory MLA

Moncton Crescent Conservative MLA John Betts is weighing in on the growing local controversy over renovating or replacing the 73-year-old Moncton High School.

Betts said saving the old building is feasible despite an architect's report detailing many problems with the building. Repairs and improvements to Moncton High could be made for an estimated $48 million, which is almost double the cost to build a new school in its place.

Betts said the province will make the final decision and he hopes the government keeps the gothic structure. He said saving the character of Moncton's oldest high school is worth the cost.

The opposition MLAsaid other landmark buildings in the province are being rebuilt so he doesn't think it is unreasonable for the provincial government to save Moncton High.

"We're undergoing a renovation now at the legislature. It was built around 1888 and they are redoing the moulding between the stones and [installing a new] copper roof," Betts said.

"I think it would be worthwhile to try and maintain [the current school]."

It is estimated to cost about $25 million to build a new school but it wouldn't have a theatre and some of the other features that are in the current school.

Betts has a long history with Moncton High. He is agraduate of the school, he had an office in the historic building when he was the local district's music supervisor and now his son is a substitute music teacher at the school.

The cornerstone of the high school was laid in 1934 and since then, it's been showing off a style not found in any modern schools, including three storeys of sandstone, arched bays and massive wood entrance doors.

Boyd Algee, the architect who wrote the report, said roofing, flooring and walls have to be replaced and upgrades have to be made to the attic and exterior stonewalls. As well, Algee said the plaster walls containing asbestos have to be removed from the school, which first opened to students in 1935.

"The amount of work that needs to be completed basically the report is referring to the rebuilding of Moncton High School; that's basically what we're doing," Algee said at a news conference on Wednesday.

School District 2 is now going through the architectural report and will pick its option. But the final decision rests with the provincial government.