A report to be considered by the education and policy and resources committees on Monday January 23 highlights the expanding roll of Kingspark. It also underlines the council's statutory obligation to meet the needs of pupils with a range of severe and complex additional support needs.
The committees will hear that the school was opened in August 2010 to cater for the needs of 125 pupils, including a number from Angus. Projected rolls for August 2012 based on the latest information shows 151 pupils would be on the roll for the next school year.
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A partnering agreement with the council's environment department is being recommended for approval, as is the additional expenditure to be included in the next update of the council's financial plan for 2012-16. The cost of building a four classroom extension is estimated at £1,095,000.
The report explains that any building programme "requires to be carried out sensitively". It adds that if this proposal is approved at the meetings on Monday January 23, work could be started during the Easter holiday in April and finished during the summer for the start of the new term in August 2012.
Education convener Cllr Liz Fordyce said: "Kingspark is a unique facility in this area and we are all very proud of the tremendous work that goes on there.
"With the rising roll at Kingspark, a solution needed to be found which could provide an extension to accommodate pupils for August without causing major interruption to the running of the school during term time."
Policy and resources convener Cllr Ken Guild added: "Kingspark School provides state-of-the-art care and education for pupils with complex needs, and this report addresses the options to provide an extension to the facility."
(GK/DW)
