REBUILDING, not repairing, two schools highly susceptible to earthquake damage is the top priority in the North Vancouver school district's $155-million five-year capital plan.
The board of trustees voted to approve the plan Tuesday.
The board is asking the province for $60.4 million to replace Argyle and Handsworth secondaries because of inadequate seismic protection.
"The (cost) to rebuild the school is undetermined," said district facilities co-ordinator Ian Abercrombie, discussing Argyle. "We're in the process of finalizing those costs."
The request comes just five months after the province put Argyle on a list of 14 schools approved for seismic upgrades. The province has budgeted a total of $122 million for the upgrades.
A three-classroom building built in 1969 at Argyle carries a High 1 rating, meaning the highest risk of irreparable structural failure in the event of an earthquake.
A two-storey classroom and another gym at Argyle, each built in 1960, were rated with a risk of High 3 and Medium. A two-storey classroom and a gymnasium at the school, each built in 1969, also carry a High 3 risk.
A High 3 risk means the collapse of some building elements are likely and the structure needs substantial re-enforcement. A medium or low risk means the building can be brought up to seismic safety standards through mitigating work.
The north and east classrooms at Handsworth earned the High 1 rating, while the cafeteria, automotive centre, main gymnasium, west gymnasium, and music room were each rated High 2.
A two-storey classroom and a gymnasium at the school, each built in 1969, also carry a High 3 risk.
If the province approves the capital plan, Windsor secondary and Balmoral will each receive seismic upgrades of $3.5 and $3 million, respectively. The school board also requested $12 million to replace old facilities at Seymour Heights elementary.
The capital plan also asks for substantial building replacements at Queensbury elementary and Lynnmour community schools, totalling approximately $17 million. Upgrades at Seycove secondary projected to cost $5.6 million were included in the capital plan.
The plan also calls for renovations at Cleveland, Upper Lynn, Norgate, Larson, Boundary, Ross Road, Montroyal, Braemar, Sherwood Park, Eastview, Brooksbank, and Capilano elementaries, totalling close to $35 million.
