Henry Anderson Elementary in Richmond to add 195 new spaces with new funding
$5M investment will help build an eight classroom addition
The provincial government says it has responded to growing enrolment at one Richmond elementary school.
It will partner with the Richmond School District, each providing $2.5 million, to pay for upgrades at the Henry Anderson Elementary including:
- An eight classroom addition that connects to the main school.
- Revisions to the parking lot and drop-off area.
- Updates to building maintenance systems.
- Improvements to sidewalks, landscaping, perimeter drains and water mains.
"Providing high-quality educational learning environments to our students and staff is a priority of the Richmond school district," said Debbie Tablotney with the Richmond Board of Education in a government-issued release.
"The B.C. government's investment in Henry Anderson Elementary signifies the government's understanding that our district currently faces significant challenges with our facilities."
Minister Bernier announcing the addition for Anderson Elementary. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sd38news?src=hash">#sd38news</a> <a href="https://t.co/lUPQLrlzfz">pic.twitter.com/lUPQLrlzfz</a>
—@lynnarcher1Construction is expected to be completed by spring 2017 when the capacity of the school will increase from 430 to 625 student spaces.
The government says 523 students are enrolled at the school this year.
Since 2001, the provincial government says it has committed more than $4.2 billion to school capital projects in B.C., including 112 new and replacement schools, 186 additions, and seismic upgrades for 150 schools.
Still at the end of 2015, there were 128 B.C. schools with a high risk of collapse during an earthquake, and no plan in place to upgrade or replace them.
In Vancouver schools are closing, while in Surrey it's the opposite with a least one school, built just four years ago, already operating above capacity.