Schools are in full swing again after the holidays, and as students and teachers resume their lessons, school districts around the province are working hard to complete school upgrades and construction.

Currently 27 projects are under construction, including seven new schools, eight facility replacements, five additions and five seismic upgrades, as well as two mechanical and electrical upgrades. The B.C. government has committed approximately $472 million to fund these projects.

Out of the 27 projects, as many as six projects are expected to finish in the next three months. These include facilities in the Surrey, Peace River North and Nisga'a school districts. Once construction crews have completed these projects, districts will begin moving equipment into the facilities for student and staff occupancy this spring.

About 13 projects will be completed this summer, in time to welcome students this fall at the start of the 2014-15 school year. These include new schools in Langley, Central Okanagan and Vancouver as well as new modular classrooms in the Prince George and Nicola-Similkameen school districts. The remaining projects are scheduled to finish later this year and within the next two years.

In addition to the facilities now being built, four seismic upgrades and one replacement school have been completed in the last three months. Students and staff have now moved into Aberdeen Elementary in the Abbotsford school district (SD 34), Queen Mary Elementary in North Vancouver (SD 44), Pitt River Middle in Coquitlam (SD 43), Sangster Elementary in Sooke (SD 62) and Deep Cove Elementary in Saanich (SD 63).

Quotes:

Peter Fassbender, Minister of Education -

"Our priority is to provide safe learning environments for all B.C. students. This is why we are replacing and upgrading schools across the province to the latest seismic safety standards. We are also expanding and building new facilities in school districts where student enrolment is over capacity."

"We continue to make great progress on our school construction projects. Our projects are on track and on budget, thanks to the hard work of our school districts and construction crews."

Quick Facts:

• Since 2001, government has spent more than $2.5 billion to complete capital projects including 99 new and replacement schools, 151 additions, 27 renovations and 26 site acquisitions throughout B.C. All new and replacement schools have been constructed to meet the latest seismic standards.
• During this time, the Province has committed more than $4.1 billion on school capital and maintenance projects throughout British Columbia.
• Since 2001 government has spent or committed $2.2 billion to seismically upgrade or replace 213 high-risk schools. It is anticipated it will cost a further $600 million to address the remaining 102 high-risk schools in the province.

Learn More:

Ministry of Education's Seismic Mitigation Program: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/capitalplanning/seismic/

BC's Education Plan: www.bcedplan.ca

Media Contact:

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

BACKGROUNDER

The projects that are expected to finish in spring 2014 include:

Surrey (SD 36)

• Two new schools, Goldstone Park Elementary and Katzie Elementary
• Additions to Fraser Heights Secondary and Panorama Ridge Secondary

Peace River North school district (SD 60)

• Expansion to the gymnasium at Clearview Elementary

Nisga'a (SD 92)

• Mechanical and electrical upgrade to Nathan Barton Elementary

Projects that are expected to finish this summer include:

Central Okanagan (SD 23)

• A new school, Mar Jok Elementary, in West Kelowna
• Addition to Okanagan Mission Secondary

Langley (SD 35)

• A new middle school in the Yorkson area of Langley

Delta (SD 37)

• Seismic upgrade to South Delta Secondary

Vancouver (SD 39)

• A new elementary, Norma Rose Point School, on the former site of University Hill Secondary

New Westminster (SD 40)

• A replacement school, Qayqayt Elementary, on the former site of St. Mary's Hospital

Coquitlam (SD 43)

• A new school, Eagle Mountain Middle, on Heritage Mountain

Sunshine Coast (SD 46)

• A replacement school, Gibsons Elementary, in Gibsons

Prince George (SD 57)

• A modular school replacement of Giscome Elementary

Nicola-Canford (SD 58)

• A modular school replacement of Nicola Canford Elementary

Greater Victoria (SD 61)

• Seismic upgrade of Quadra Elementary

Kamloops/Thompson (SD 73)

• Addition to Norkam Secondary (new Trades and Technology Centre)

Nechako Lakes (SD 91)

• Classroom block replacement in Babine Elementary-Secondary with modular classrooms

Projects expected to finish in late 2014:

Campbell River (SD 72)

• Seismic upgrade to École Phoenix Middle

Fort Nelson (SD 81)

• Mechanical and electrical upgrade of Fort Nelson Secondary

Projects scheduled to finish in 2015-16

Surrey (SD 36)

• Seismic upgrade to J.T. Brown Elementary

Coquitlam (SD 43)

• A replacement school, Centennial Secondary, in Coquitlam

Greater Victoria (SD 61)

• A replacement of Oak Bay Secondary

Sooke (SD 62)

• A replacement school, Belmont Secondary, in Langford
• A new school, Royal Bay Secondary, in Colwood

Nanaimo-Ladysmith (SD 68)

• Seismic upgrade to Wellington Secondary

Media Contact:

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