The New Westminster School District is pretty much like all those homeowners out there taking advantage of pandemic time to get some work done around the house.
With the COVID-19 crisis having put in-class instruction on an indefinite hold, the school district has been able to get a jump start on some of the projects that would normally have waited for summertime.
Bettina Ketcham, the school district’s secretary-treasurer, gave a report at the school board’s operations policy and planning committee meeting on April 21.
“A silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic, if I could make one, would be that we were able to pull forward a lot of our capital projects that were initially anticipated for the summer months,” she said.
Ketcham noted the school district received approval from the Ministry of Education for several capital projects under the ministry’s school enhancement program. Some of that work was started over spring break and is continuing now, in the absence of students in schools.
Among the schools benefiting from the new work are Herbert Spencer Elementary, where a roof replacement project has begun, and Glenbrook Middle School, where a flooring replacement project is underway.
Connaught Heights and F.W. Howay elementary schools are also getting enhancement money for mechanical upgrades; new air handlers have been ordered for both schools.
Queensborough is also on the school district’s radar.
“We are also diligently working on the expansion plan for Queen Elizabeth Elementary,” Ketcham said.
She noted the district is required to submit a concept plan to the ministry by Oct. 31, and the district is currently working with its architect team to draft that report.
“While we do have quite a bit of time to be able to draft that document, there’s a lot of work that is involved in that, and we’re working closely with our consultants to put together a solid business case,” she said.
Among other projects the district has been working on is lead testing of school water systems. Schools must be tested every three years, and this year’s testing included Lord Kelvin, F.W. Howay and Herbert Spencer elementary schools, plus Glenbrook and Queensborough middle schools.
Ketcham reported that all schools came back with positive results in terms of numbers below the acceptable concentration levels.
