FH Collins Secondary School in Whitehorse to be complete by fall

The $31-million construction phase of the new FH Collins Secondary School in Whitehorse is nearing completion, but it will still be another seven months before students move into their classes.

Doris Wurfbaum of the Department of Highways and Public Works said most of the major components for the new school are finished, while interior painting is underway. She said work on the school's mechanical and electrical systems are on schedule. The high school will be handed over to the education department at the end of summer.

"The project is on time and on budget, good things we like to hear as project managers, and the final construction completion scheduled for August 31." 

Finishing touches this fall

Ronuk Modha, a spokesperson with the education department, said furniture and equipment will be moved in during the fall.

"We have to basically furnish the inside of the school so that includes making sure that all the classrooms, all the labs, all the culinary arts room, everything has the equipment in place so that students can make full use of the school," he said.

The school will keep students and teachers informed before they move in after the Christmas holiday, Modha said.

"It's a big move and people are happy, people are going to be excited about moving in, and we want to support that, we want to work with them to make sure it's smoothly done as possible."

After the students move into the new school, the old building will be demolished except for the trades wing. The shops will be upgraded for continued use.

The new FH Collins school was originally supposed to be completed by 2013.