On Wednesday, June 7, 2023 Vancouver School Board trustees and stakeholder representatives attended the final Facilities Planning Committee meeting for the 2022-2023 school year. For meeting details, view the agenda package or watch the live stream.

The meeting began with a presentation on the Draft 2024-2025 Five-Year Capital Plan submission. The committee heard a proposal submission for the District’s major capital plan programs including the District’s Seismic Mitigation Program (SMP) for schools that need to be replaced or upgraded due to high seismic risk; and School Expansion Program (EXP) for schools that need to be expanded or built to accommodate additional student enrolment. Mackenzie, Renfrew and False Creek elementary schools, as well as David Thompson and Killarney secondary schools were listed as a priority for year-one in the five-year plan under the SMP. False Creek and Carr elementary schools, as well as King George secondary school were listed as priorities under the EXP. For a full list of schools identified under each program, see item 1.1 in the agenda package. 

The report also covered the Building Envelope Program (BEP), which provides capital funding to rehabilitate building envelope failures that occurred during a specific era of construction. At the end of the update, it was recommended to the committee that the Board approves both major and minor Five-Year Capital Plans proposals. All committee members supported this motion to move ahead to the June Board meeting. 

Next, staff reported on the Capital Management Branch's School Food Infrastructure Program (FIP), which is a new program that is part of the broader Feeding Futures School Food program aimed at ensuring students are well-fed for better academic and health outcomes. The program focuses on minor upgrades like refrigerated vehicles, kitchen equipment, and kitchen improvements, and districts can submit funding requests until June 30, 2023, with approved projects expected to be completed by March 2024. Britannia, Templeton, and Gladstone Secondary schools were identified as priorities for the new funding request. All committee members supported this recommendation. 

Following this, the committee heard a staff report about the rationale for the Board to consider the closure of Sir Guy Carleton Elementary School. Carleton has not been enrolling students since 2016, when the school had to stop operations due to a fire. As per Board Policy 14 – School Closure, the Board must follow a rigorous process before a final closure decision is made. The first step involves receiving a report from senior District staff, which occurred at the public board meeting on May 29, 2023. The second, and current step, involves receiving feedback from stakeholders at the facilities planning committee. The Committee recommended the Board proceed to the next step of the process, public engagement. The Board will decide if the District should proceed to public engagement at the next public Board meeting on June 26, 2023. More details about the process can be found on agenda item 1.3.  

Staff then Presented how the Annual Facilities Grant (AFG) will be spent for the 2023-2024 school year. AFG is used for maintenance and capital work at District facilities. This year Ministry allocated $11,773,052 in the capital component and $2,047,901 in the operating component to the VSB. Funds in the capital portion are used to extend the function of a building component beyond the installed life of the system or to provide the facility with new functionality. These enable the building to continue functioning for longer, or at a better service level than with the initial installed systems. Funds in the operating portion are directed to supplement maintenance and repair activities. A detailed summary of how the funds will be spent is in item 3.1 of the agenda package. 

Next, staff provided an update about potential opportunities to expand child care facilities on VSB sites, as directed by the Board in January. Methods discussed include relicensing spaces given the less restrictive VCH regulations, incorporating new child care facilities into new or replaced school projects when possible, and forming a child care working group to further explore opportunities for child care expansion. Details about each method can be found in item 3.2 of the agenda package. 

Lastly, staff presented the communications and engagement activities regarding the potential surplus consideration around the eastern portion of Bruce Elementary. The District has recommended to surplus the eastern portion of the Bruce site. Per Board Policy 20 – Disposal of Land or Improvements, an engagement process is required prior to any surplus consideration by the Board. As such, staff presented a communications and engagement plan for the surplus consideration of the eastern portion of the Bruce site. More information can be found under item 3.3 of the agenda package. 

To keep up to date with all of the District’s committee and Board meetings, see the calendar for meeting dates, agendas and livestream links. All recordings of past meetings are available on the District’s YouTube channel.