School District 47 has an ambitious capital plan for the 2024 – 2025 school year.
At the Powell River Board of Education meeting on June 21, secretary-treasurer Steve Hopkins provided a capital plan overview, which is an outline for the whole year.
Hopkins said the most relevant prospective project is the expansion of Edgehill Elementary School.
“It’s been in our plan for a number of years, and this spring, as part of the capital plan response letter, we got permission from the ministry of education for that phase of planning,” said Hopkins. “We have been working closely with the principal and some consultants. We feel that it will be supported.”
According to a report from Hopkins to the school board, Edgehill is one of four older elementary schools in the district. He stated that its current nominal student capacity is 20 kindergarten and 125 elementary-aged students. He added that enrolment is currently at 212 students, who are currently housed in the school building, along with five older portable classrooms.
Hopkins stated that a project fact sheet has been developed and used to create a business case to support the request for an addition to the building, which, if supported, would potentially increase the school capacity to 40 kindergarten and 225 elementary-aged students.
Hopkins, in speaking to the board, said plans include a new gymnasium and five new classrooms. He said the existing kindergarten would house the StrongStart program.
“We’re hopeful that it will be supported and I anticipate bringing more information back in September,” said Hopkins.
Another important project in the proposal is seismic improvements at Texada Elementary School, valued at $4.3 million.
There are also kitchen appliance upgrades and replacements, estimated at $17,000, for local schools.
Mechanical system and ventilation upgrades at Henderson Elementary School is estimated at $1.4 million.
Also in the plan is an LED lighting upgrade for elementary schools, estimated at $150,000, and a replacement school bus, estimated at $135,000.
Board of education chairperson Dale Lawson said there were some exciting developments and the Edgehill upgrade, if accepted, would be the biggest project undertaken by the school district since she has been on the school board.
The board approved a motion that the 2024 – 2025 major projects be approved as presented.
