RESIDENTS living near Ridgeway annex and Plymouth elementary schools will soon learn what may become of the properties, which were shuttered some time ago by the North Vancouver School District.
The board issued requests for proposals for new uses for the schools, along with Monterey elementary and Keith Lynn secondary, in August after a public consultation around 11 school board properties no longer needed due to declining enrollment.
After receiving a strong response to the request, the board has short-listed four proponents each for Ridgeway and Plymouth, according to board chairwoman Franci Stratton. The shortlisted candidates will be asked to present their ideas to the board and the public at meetings scheduled for the end of November and early December.
Proponents looking to take over Ridgeway Annex will be able to make their pitch to the board on Tuesday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. Proposals for Plymouth will be heard Tuesday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m.
Pitches for Monterey, however, were "not sufficient to advance," Stratton said.
"Unfortunately, there are no decisions pending on Monterey at this time. We will consider doing something with that site and have some further discussions after we go through Plymouth and Ridgeway," she said.
The decision on Keith Lynn, which is in rougher shape than the other schools, has been put off while proponents get a better idea of how much work will be needed to make it usable.
"One had requested a due-diligence period and the board felt it would be a good idea to provide that to the other proponents so they have the opportunity to go through that building again and see what the deficiencies are," Stratton said.
The school board had originally identified 11 "surplus properties" that could be rented out or sold, with revenues going to the school district's coffers, but after getting public feedback, only the four were selected.
Maplewood, Westover and Fromme elementary schools have already been leased long term.
