The Vancouver School Board facilities planning standing committee held its first meeting of the 2023-2024 school year on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. More details can be found in agenda package or by viewing the live stream recording. 

The agenda included a recommendation to forward a motion to the Board to approve VSB’s submission for minor capital projects for the next school year to the Ministry of Education. The proposed projects value nearly $11 million to enable facilities work like window and roof replacements, accessibility upgrades at playgrounds, heating and electrical improvements and upgraded food infrastructure and equipment. The four trustee-committee members forwarded the proposed plan to the Board’s consideration. Minor capital plan submissions are due to the Ministry of Education and Child Care by September 30 each year.

The committee also received an update about projects in progress following the Ministry’s approval of six minor capital projects last year. These projects range from ventilation system upgrades to accessibility improvements at schools and food equipment upgrades. 

The final item on the committee’s agenda was an update about summer works by the facilities department. The committee learned about the reconfiguration of a building at Laurier Elementary School that this year will house six divisions of students. That building was made available because of the move of the Ideal Mini Program to its home secondary school, Churchill. The committee also heard details about the work done throughout the summer to provide students and staff of the Ideal Mini program with dedicated and contained space at Churchill. Other work completed during the summer includes exterior painting of schools that helps protect from degradation, field and drainage work on several school sites, accessibly improvements at schools and upgrade of food infrastructure and equipment. 

To keep up-to-date with  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.