Mitchell elementary will be partially rebuilt and seismically upgraded with construction starting this fall.
The Minister of Education, Rob Fleming, was at the Cambie Road elementary school on Friday to make the announcement that came with $11.4 million in funding. Students will remain in the current school during construction. The school is expected to be completed by spring 2021.
Richmond school board chair Ken Hamaguchi said upgrades are about safety but also about making schools relevant for 21st century education.
“We want to keep kids safe and we want them to have a good learning experience,” he said after the announcement.
The current school was built in 1960 with additions in 1964, 1975 and 1991.
Mitchell elementary, in a structural analysis, was found to be at the highest risk for structural damage in the event of an earthquake and at high risk for liquefaction.
During construction, the child care site will also remain at the school.
Since September, the ministry has announced $38.2 million in seismic upgrades for four schools in Richmond.
“Today’s announcement ensures that staff and students at Mitchell Elementary will have a safe learning environment that supports their educational journey,” said Richmond superintendent Scott Robinson in a press release. “As we move forward, the Richmond School District remains committed to working with the ministry to improve the safety of the facilities within the our school community.”
