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Rules change for school capital plans

SD46

The Ministry of Education is changing the rules as they apply to capital works for school districts in the province – and the change doesn’t appear to be good for School District No. 46 (SD46).

SD46 secretary treasurer Nicholas Weswick told trustees about the new changes during the Sept. 14 school board meeting, noting the 40-plus-page document outlining the changes had just recently been released and staff was seeking more clarification from the ministry.

Weswick said it would appear that under the new rules for school expansion or replacement SD46 would have to commit 50 per cent of the funding from its own budget, demonstrate that enrolment has increased in the area consistently for the past five years and that enrolment is expected to continue to grow over the next 10 years.

SD46 would also have to prove there’s no space at nearby schools to accommodate students and that throughout the entire district schools are seeing an 80 per cent utilization rate.

Complicating matters, the ministry has upped its school capacity guidelines to allow 22 kindergarten students, 24 Grade 1-3 students and 30 Grade 4-12 students in a classroom. Previously the caps were set at 20, 22 and 25 respectively. 

The changes seem to quash any plans for development at West Sechelt Elementary – which is over capacity and was being eyed for expansion – as there is space available to accommodate students at Kinnikinnick Elementary.

Trustees were concerned about the new rules and board chair Betty Baxter encouraged staff to get as much clarification as possible in the coming weeks.

“Clearly the rules are shifting a little bit here on us and we want to make sure that we’ve got as accurate information as possible,” Baxter said.

Weswick said the new rules would also apply to seismic upgrades in school districts across B.C. but noted all schools on the Sunshine Coast are up to seismic standards, so that part won’t impact SD46.