A rebuilt Handsworth school will have to be larger than previously thought, according to a detailed assessment conducted by the district this spring.
The project identification review brought together consultants with the school's staff, PAC and other stakeholders to talk about the needs of the school and confirm that a new building is needed.
While the school district has long said the school needs to be replaced due to the structure's age and earthquake concerns, the detailed assessment is an important step for receiving funding from the province.
The new report lists a required capacity at 1,300 students, about the same as the current student body, while previous reports had suggested a smaller school be built.
"Enrolment at that particular school remains very strong and we've been making that point with our consultants and the ministry for a couple of years: that in our view there would be no justification in reducing it," said Irene Young, secretary treasurer for the school district.
"Now the consultants have supported that." Handsworth is third on the district's capital projects list behind Argyle secondary and Seymour Heights, both of which have completed their reviews and are awaiting a decision from the ministry.
When new funding will be available, however, is anyone's guess.
"They tend to go in sequence and it would be unusual for us to receive approval for more than one brand new school at any given time," said Young.
It's been five years since the province approved capital funds for North Vancouver, though many of those projects are still ongoing. Carson Graham secondary is undergoing a major retrofit, which involved demolishing and rebuilding much of the school, and is expected to finish in just over a year.
Meanwhile, Queen Mary school will shut its doors for an extensive renovation in September, which involves rebuilding the inside of the school while maintaining the heritage facade. During that time students will attend the Cloverly elementary site, where Ridgeway students have gone to school the last two years.
Ridgeway school will reopen its doors following a similar retrofit in September, but no word yet on when the official opening will be held.
