Education Minister Mike Bernier toured the construction site of the almost $20-million Delta Secondary school seismic upgrade project with school district staff and officials, as well as construction representatives.
The $19.8-million Delta Secondary school seismic upgrade project is funded through B.C.’s award winning Seismic Mitigation Program. It includes seismically upgrading 11 of the 13 blocks at Delta Secondary, including the library, automotive and woodwork shops, learning centre and cafeteria. The project also includes relocating the art and graphics room block and using the space to expand the courtyard and add more natural light to the corridor.The school’s capacity will be reduced from 1,400 to 1,300 to reflect enrolment forecasts and cut down on operating costs. The smaller, safer and more efficient school is being delivered on time and on budget and is expected to complete in spring 2017.Government has also provided $2.5 million to the Delta school district through the Building Envelope Program to make improvements to the theatre. To save time and money, the district is making these improvements in conjunction with the seismic upgrades. Construction is scheduled to be completed in fall 2016.The Delta Secondary seismic upgrade project is an example of how government is investing in B.C. schools to ensure students have safe and modern learning environments. Including Delta Secondary, government has invested more than $30 million over the last two years for seismic projects in the Delta school district.Government is able to make school investments in Delta thanks to the Province’s fiscal discipline and strong economy.Links:
Delta school district: http://www.deltasd.bc.ca/
Delta Secondary school: http://de.deltasd.bc.ca/
Seismic Mitigation Program: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/administration/resource-management/capital-planning/seismic-mitigation-program