A new superschool could be on the cards for the Stewartry.
Education officials are working on plans to transform the region’s schools estate which could lead to some closures and fewer buildings overall.
And one councillor believes the way forward could be merging three existing Stewartry schools into one facility.
Castle Douglas and Crocketford representative John Young told Thursday’s education committee: “I feel with the likes of Castle Douglas High School no amount of refurbishment will solve the basic problems.
“It’s a building riddled with asbestos and, at the moment, children from its catchment area who are disabled have to go to another school.
“Even parents who are disabled are unable to come in and see their children receive prizes or put on a performance.
“My proposal is a wee bit radical. I propose we have a complete rethink and have a Stewartry learning campus combining Castle Douglas High, Kirkcudbright Academy and Dalry Secondary.”
The idea was put forward during a debate on the draft version of the Dumfries and Galloway Learning Estate Strategy.
It states: “The long-term vision is to have a manageable estate, with the right buildings in the right place, that is determined by an effective school model that can propose recommendations for change and facilitate that change.”
The intention is to have a consultation with parents, staff and stakeholders “to create the road map and recommendations required for positive change, increased efficiency and economic growth”.
Schools property boss Larann Foss, who has worked on the document, told Councillor Young: “The Stewartry is a brilliant model to start that journey once we’ve been through the engagement process, once we gather that data. We’re going to have to begin somewhere.
“I absolutely recognise the challenges around Kirkcudbright, the challenges around Castle Douglas and, being a Dalry pupil myself, I know exactly the difference it’s seen over the years.”
Mr Foss warned that the capital investment strategy is already set until the end of 2024/25.
He added: “Theoretically, we’re about four years away before we could start planning what that investment looks like, should it be for the Stewartry, impacting on Kirkcudbright and Castle Douglas.”
Councillor Young, as well as fellow councillors Pauline Drysdale and Iain Howie, has previously called for a new building to replace Castle Douglas.
And during Thursday’s meeting, Dee and Glenkens councillor John Denerely asked why Kirkcudbright Academy wasn’t further up the pecking order for improvements.
He said: “Three of us in the ward were invited to come around to have a look at it.
“We believe the condition is very run down. It should be a lot higher on that priority list.
“I certainly know the staff share those concerns, including the head teacher and, ultimately, it’s about the safety of the children.
“As an ex parent of that school, it is a fantastic school, but, in order to stay that way, we need to justify some way to look for the right resources to go into that building or indeed look for an alternative – possibly a new space for that school to work out of it.”
