Site for Palo Seco school under review

THE Ministry of Education is currently reviewing a report recommending that the new Palo Seco Secondary School be built at the Lucien Francois Ambard Estate in Los Bajos, Erin. A ministry release yesterday stated the recommendation from Eco Engineering Consultants would be reviewed before the ministry proceeded with a risk evaluation exercise. The consultant also considered the existing school site at Palo Seco and others at Rancho Quemado at Happy Hill in its study, which was commissioned by the National Maintenance Training and Security Company (MTS) on behalf of the ministry.

Issues considered at each site related to the natural environment — climate, geology and seismicity, ambient air quality, noise levels and socio-economic characteristics. The recommended site was up to five years ago used for beef and dairy farming. There are no oil wells or pipelines on the site. The school was gutted by fire on April 7 and was located on a site that accommodated the officers of companies engaged in oil production and a supermarket. The new school is expected to accommodate 875 students and eight buildings, including science laboratories, a multi-media learning centre and housing for the Fine and Performing Arts.