1. AED/Naloxone kits in schools
Richmond's Board of Education decided in September that naloxone kits and automated external defibrillators (AED) will soon be added to schools and facilities' first aid and safety kits.
The subject was brought up a year ago by then-board chair Debbie Tablotney who wondered whether AEDs and naloxone kits could help with unexpected cardiac arrests and reverse an opioid overdose when needed in or near public schools.
During the summer, a two-hour-long discussion saw a divide among students, parents and the community on the topic.
Students expressed interest in having life-saving options while parents were concerned about having naloxone kits in schools.
2: Seismic upgrades cost projections escalate
The Richmond School District has completed a total of 13 seismic upgrades, including James Whiteside and William Bridge elementary schools, while the focus of new projects is on Howard DeBeck and Alfred B. Dixon elementary schools.
Projected costs for seismic upgrades to Richmond schools have increased almost 50 per cent since 2023.
The latest estimate for Richmond School District's seismic program to upgrade 22 schools stands now at $775 million.
This is a $254-million increase from cost projections made in the 2023/2024 school year, when the total cost was estimated at $521 million. In the 2024/2025 school year, the cost estimate ballooned to $640 million.
Among the schools, James Gilmore Elementary at $39.8 million and Steveston-London Secondary at $59.9 million have the highest estimated upgrade costs.
Diefenbaker elementary received provincial funding of more than $50 million this year to be rebuilt to the latest seismic safety standards and is expected to be completed by April 2028.
3: Modular classrooms
The Ministry of Education and Child Care announced funding for two more modular classroom additions for the Richmond School District.
R.C. Talmey elementary will receive a six-classroom modular building and F.A. Tomsett elementary will get a nine-classroom modular building with both projects expected to be completed for the 2025/2026 school year.
Talmey's project is estimated to cost $9 million and will add 150 seats to the school, while Tomsett will see an additional 225 seats with a price tag of $13.5 million.
The Richmond Board of Education recently had to approve a covenant bylaw for the construction of Talmey's modular classrooms as the location of the building straddled two properties, which are both owned by the school district.
4: Enrolment
The Richmond School District saw a higher-than-expected enrolment this school year with almost 700 students more this fall compared to last year, and this is 185 more students than projected in the spring.
The increase of 688 students this year brings the total number of students to 23,388, three per cent higher than last year.
The enrolment increase and the increase in students who need to be supported will increase the estimated operating grant by $3.4 million.
While the enrolment increase is likely due to population growth, the school district has been challenged with some overcrowded schools.
Richmond Board of Education trustees have been asking and pushing the City of Richmond about getting land for a school in city centre.
5: Teacher shortage
A teacher shortage has been an ongoing problem in the Richmond School District and across the province.
The Richmond Teachers Association (RTA) estimates the district has been short 20 teachers every day since the beginning of the school year.
That means, between September and January, there were 1,800 instances where there were no on-call teachers available to fill an absence.
Shortages in teachers at the elementary level result in specialist teachers and English Language Learners support being pulled from their work in order to fill the void.
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