Seismic upgrades have been completed at Mitchell and Manoah Steves elementary schools at a cost of $24 million.
A section of Mitchell elementary, built in 1960 and considered “high risk” for students, is also being converted into an adult learning centre to the tune of $250,000, expected to be completed by Christmas.
“Now that these projects are complete, students and staff will be returning this fall to safer, updated learning environments,” said Sandra Nixon, chair of the Richmond Board of Education, in a statement.
Nixon, however, told the Richmond News earlier this year that the “high risk” wing was considered a safe environment for adults. In a report to the board, it states adults are able to exit buildings more quickly than students in a crowded school.
Grassroots movement pushed for safe schools
Several schools in Richmond have had seismic upgrades done in recent years and several projects are on-going.
In 2016, a group called Richmond Schools Stand United, fought school closures – one of its leaders was Kelly Greene, currently MLA for Richmond-Steveston.
At that time, 16 schools were short-listed for closure as the provincial education ministry wanted to shutter under-utilized, seismically unsafe schools, with the expectation that four or five would have eventually closed in Richmond.
A petition to oppose the Richmond school closures garnered 3,600 signatures and widespread media attention.
Since the election of the NDP government, several Richmond schools have been approved for seismic upgrading, some already completed.
The school district compiled a long-range facilities plan in 2018 that outlines enrolment projections and assesses the condition of all schools in Richmond.
No specific schools are mentioned for closure, but there are some suggestions of consolidating schools or closing one elementary school out of a group of 10 schools in west Richmond.
More seismic upgrades expected
During construction at Mitchell elementary, which cost $11.4 million, students were able to remain on site.
Updates at Manoah Steves, meanwhile, included replacing the main entrance and administration offices – the oldest section of the school – and upgrading the classrooms and gymnasium, with funding of $12.8 million.
Seismic upgrades are also underway at several other Richmond schools.
Maple Lane elementary is expected to be completed this winter, while Tomsett elementary – which is getting a seismic upgrade and addition – and James McKinney elementary schools should be completed in spring 2022.
James Whiteside and William Bridge elementary schools are anticipated to be seismically upgraded by fall 2023.
