Potential Vancouver school closures accepted in exchange for seismic upgrades

Vancouver School Board trustees have votedunanimouslyin favour of potentially closing as many as 13 schools in exchange for overdue seismic upgrades.

Trustees approved thecommittee on planning and facilities recommendationsas a way to comply with the province's requirements outlined in its seismic mitigation plan, which includes an expectation that Vancouver schools must be filled to95 per cent capacity before upgrades would be considered.

• INTERACTIVE MAP |Earthquake risk and school seismic upgrades in B.C.
• 128 B.C. schools still awaiting seismic upgrades
• Seismic upgrades in Vancouver schools costly and time-consuming: VSB

Many of the trustees said they felt obligated to vote in favour of the plan in order to get the seismic upgrades.

"I realize that the government of B.C. has given me no choice but to vote in favour of this recommendation," said trustee Joy Alexander.

It's not the decision manyparents who attended the meetingwere hoping for either, but some said they understood the position the trustees were in.

"They're really between a rock and a hard place," saidJennifer Stewart withFamilies Against Cuts to Education

12 elementary schools and one high school would be closed over the next 15 years.

But VSB chair Mike Lombardi said the plan isn't written in stone, the boardhasn't made any final decisions on which schools to close,and changes could be made before the plan isput in place.

"We have a very significant policy in Vancouverwhere there is a year long process before any school closed," said Lombardi.

Parents and trustees alikesaid the way school capacity is measuredis inaccurate rooms used for art, music and computer classes often sit empty butare factored into the equation.

"Things like special education classes, where you may have as many as sixkids in the classbecause of their high needs ... are still subject to the same capacity rules," said Stewart.

The school board said public consultations on the closure will start in late February. Feedback from the public wil be included in an updated plan sent to the Ministry of Education in June.