Students and staff in the community of Zeballos will soon be attending a brand new school with a StrongStart BC Centre, and a Neighbourhood Learning Centre, which includes a full-sized gymnasium that the community can use on evenings and weekends.

The Province has signed an agreement with the Vancouver Island West School District (SD 84) worth more than $6 million to relocate the Zeballos Elementary Secondary school to a new site.

The new school will be built on Crown land with support from the Town of Zeballos and the local First Nations bands. Construction of the new school will start in winter 2012. The new school is expected to open its doors in early 2013.

The current school is near a hillside, which brings some concern about the stability of rocks on the slope. The school district has reported to the ministry that there are no immediate safety concerns for students. Along with the ministry and the local Emergency Preparedness Committee, the district will continue to monitor the situation until the new school is built at a safer location.

Quick Facts:

• Zeballos Elementary Secondary currently serves students from kindergarten to Grade 12.
• The school has an overall enrolment of about 70 K-12 students. Last year there were 32 K - 7 students and 18 grades 8-12 students enrolled at the school.
• The district will use B.C. wood as much as possible in the construction of the new school.
• Since 2001, the Province has invested more than $3.2 million in the Vancouver Island West school district for the seismic remediation work. It is also investing $75,000 for five classroom conversions for full-day kindergarten.
• During the same period, the government has spent more than $1.8 billion to complete 83 new and replacement schools, 149 additions, 26 renovations and 22 site acquisitions, and has committed more than $3.9 billion overall to school capital and maintenance projects.

Learn More:

Learn more about Neighbourhood Learning Centres: http://www.neighbourhoodlearningcentres.gov.bc.ca/

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963