New limits to classroom sizes are adding to expansion pressures on schools in North Vancouver that could cost the province over $22 million over the next six to 10 years.
The figures are among those the North Vancouver school district recently provided to the ministry of education as an estimate of how enrolment pressures and restored class size and composition limits could impact the district’s five-year capital plan.
Projects like a new elementary school for Lower Lonsdale – estimated at more than $27 million including land costs – and expansions of both Argyle and Carson Graham secondary schools remain at the top of the school district’s priority list for capital projects.
But new class size limits combined with increasing enrolment means expansions will also likely be needed for a number of elementary schools – including Lynn Valley, Highlands, Westview, Queen Mary, Cove Cliff, Upper Lynn and Boundary – according to a recent report by Jim Mackenzie, director of facilities for the school district.
Cost estimates for the projects range from $1.75 million to expand the capacity of Boundary Elementary by 50 students to more than $4.1 million to expand Queen Mary’s capacity by 100 students.
If approved for funding by the province, the projects would be completed over several years and may also involve placing portables on the sites as a temporary measure, said Mackenzie.
There are currently 39 portables on-site at 15 North Vancouver schools. Of those, many have been in place for years, while seven were added in the past year in response to new class size and composition limits.
The number of portables at each site ranges from one to a high of five.
Recently, the school district tried to convince the ministry to build capacity for an additional 200 students into the design for the rebuild of Argyle Secondary, but that was rejected. As a result, that increase – projected to cost about $6 million – will have to be considered by the ministry at a later date when enrolment increases, said Mackenzie.
An expansion of Carson Graham to create capacity for 250 more students – due to both enrolment and class size limits – is also high on the school district’s wish list with a preliminary price tag of almost $12 million.
School district officials are also continuing to discuss with the ministry their request for a rebuild of Handsworth Secondary.
Georgia Allison, secretary treasurer for the school district, cautioned school trustees that all of the new builds and expansion projects on the five-year capital plan are essentially a wish list.
The cost of all projects on the North Vancouver school district’s wish list currently totals more than $65 million.
