Plans to merge Buckhaven and Kirkland high schools took a step forward on Thursday as councillors agreed to seek Scottish Government funding for the proposal.
The Courier revealed on Monday the local authority’s plan to build a £40m single-site school for Levenmouth, catering for 1,700 pupils, under phase three of Scotland’s Schools for the Future (SFT) programme.
The proposed new building would be approximately the same size as the new Dunfermline High School which is being built under Building Fife’s Future (BFF) banner along with Auchmuty High.
New schools are also in the pipeline for Madras College, once a suitable site has been identified, and Kirkcaldy East.
The council’s executive committee was told significant savings would be made by the merger, as well as educational, social and economic advantages.
The building’s suggested site is the existing Buckhaven High site and, if funding is secured and planning approval granted, it could open within four years.
Education and learning director Ken Greer said: ”There is an area of playing field which would be large enough to accommodate a new expanded learning community.
”This would allow the operation of both of the existing schools to continue until the new facility was available.”
The government is expected to fund up to two thirds of the overall cost, with the council expected to fund the balance, which is anticipated to be around £15 million.
Because there is no funding available within the existing education capital programme, the balance would have to be sought through prudential borrowing.
That debt would be offset in the long run, however, with annual revenue savings of £1.2 million generated as a result of operating a single school, Mr Greer explained.
Other concerns were raised by councillors Tim Brett and Peter Grant.
Mr Brett said he was worried the council were committing themselves to the project too quickly as a result of the fast-approaching government funding deadline of July 20.
Mr Greer said no decision was expected on whether a single school would be built at this stage they were only required to decide on whether to bid for funding.
Mr Grant said he had reservations about the estimated number of pupils the school would cater for, given the volume of houses being built in the area, but was informed that the figures had taken that into account.
Buckhaven, Methil and Wemyss councillor Andrew Rodger said the matter had been discussed by Levenmouth Area Committee and all members had given it their backing.
Mr Greer will prepare a funding bid and report back to the next meeting of the executive committee on the subject.