The B.C. government and the Richmond School District are taking action to improve student safety and support student learning by investing $14 million to upgrade William Cook Elementary school. 

Education Minister Mike Bernier made the announcement today alongside MLA for Richmond Centre Teresa Wat, MLA for Richmond Steveston John Yap, MLA for Richmond East Linda Reid, Richmond School District officials, students and staff.

The project will seismically replace a section of the school, build a new four-classroom addition and seismically upgrade the rest of the school. The new addition will create 95 new student spaces. The upgraded school will meet the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s students while supporting B.C.’s new curriculum and improving accessibility and energy efficiency.

Construction is expected to start in the summer of 2018, and complete in the fall of 2020. Students will be accommodated onsite during construction with the project being done in phases.

The total price tag of the William Cook Elementary upgrade project is $14 million, with $13 million coming from the Province’s award-winning Seismic Mitigation Program and $1 million from the Richmond School District.

In addition to the upgrade announced today, the Ministry of Education and the school district are moving forward on developing business cases for W.D. Ferris Elementary, Tomsett Elementary, Steves Elementary, Quilchena Elementary and James Whiteside Elementary.

The B.C. government is making record investments in modern, safe infrastructure projects throughout the province. In doing so, these construction projects are creating well-paying, family-supporting jobs. This project is anticipated to create about 43 jobs. These investments are possible because of the fiscal plan of the B.C. government.

(flickr.com)

Quotes:

Mike Bernier, Education Minister –

“The B.C. government is protecting the quality of education for B.C. students by investing in safe and secure schools. Today, we’re delivering on this commitment with funding to seismically upgrade and partially replace William Cook Elementary school.”

Linda Reid, MLA for Richmond East –

“We are working with the Richmond School District to move seismic projects forward, including the changes at William Cook Elementary. We are increasing the capacity of this school to accommodate enrolment pressures in the school and the surrounding area to serve families now and for years to come.”

Teresa Wat, MLA for Richmond Centre –

“Built in the early 1950’s, William Cook Elementary has seen many additions. It has served the community well and it is time to give the school a refresh to better suit the needs of today’s learner.”

John Yap, MLA for Richmond Steveston –

“Students and staff at William Cook Elementary will soon be learning and teaching in a more modern and safe environment. I am pleased to see this project moving forward with the help of our partners at the Richmond School District.”   

Debbie Tablotney, chair, Richmond School Board –

“Student and staff safety is a priority for the Richmond School District and as such we are encouraged by today’s announcement from the B.C. government. This investment ensures that William Cook Elementary will soon meet the seismic requirements that our students, staff and community deserve. The new addition to the school will also provide additional class space that is needed for this area of the Richmond community. Moving forward, we hope that the B.C. government will continue to fund seismic remediation projects so that all students and staff are provided with safe learning environments.”

Quick Facts:

• Since 2001, the Province has invested almost $90 million for capital and seismic projects in the Richmond School District.
• To date, the Richmond Board of Education has completed three seismic mitigation projects worth approximately $35.6 million, including:
  • Garden City Elementary – $3.9-million seismic upgrade
  • Steveston-London Secondary – $15.3-million seismic replacement
  • Samuel Brighouse Elementary – $16.4-million seismic replacement

Learn More:

Seismic Mitigation Program: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/administration/resource-management/capital-planning/seismic-mitigation-program

Richmond School District: http://www.sd38.bc.ca/

William Cook Elementary school: http://cook.sd38.bc.ca/

Ministry of Education – Capital planning: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/administration/resource-management/capital-planning

B.C.’s new curriculum: https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/