Carleton Elementary won't open this fall after 4-alarm fire

The Vancouver School Board announced today Carleton Elementary's building will not open for students this fall after last week's four-alarm fire.

The school will continue to operate at Cunningham Elementary instead — two kilometres west — for the new 2016/2017 year.

"We heard parents and staff express their desire to stay together following this traumatic event. With some rearranging of classrooms the entire population of Carleton can be accommodated at Cunningham Elementary," said VSB superintendent Scott Robinson in a statement.

The school board said there is no guarantee power, heat and other services at Carleton could be restored in time for the beginning of school, and officials want to "provide the least disruption possible to education and programs."

Carleton will continue to have its own principal, teachers and staff while operating at Cunningham.

The VSB says parents will receive more information next week about confirming registration. 

Cunningham is approximately a five-minute drive from Carleton. Last school year, Carleton had an enrolment of approximately 304 students, while Cunningham had 348 students, with an operating capacity of 616. 

The fire, which happened in the school's main brick building on August 19, has been deemed suspicious. 

It's unknown what the school's long-term fate will be, as Carleton is one of 12 schools the VSB is considering closing.