Parents concerned that a fast-tracked addition to Kitchener Elementary School in Burnaby won’t include anything but classrooms will get a chance to have input into the project before plans are finalized, the school district says.
The $22.5-million addition, announced by B.C. Education Minister Rachna Singh last week, will add 15 new classrooms (375 more student spaces) to the school for a total capacity of 725.
Part of a first wave of prefabricated projects the ministry is funding, the Kitchener addition could be finished as early as next September, Rachna said.
The addition is desperately needed, according to the school district, which says the school will be at 207 percent capacity by 2031 unless more spaces are added.
While last week's announcement included information about extra classrooms to address the overcrowding, however, there was nothing about the school's playground, playing field, gym, music room, bathrooms and other amenities.
But that doesn't mean the district and ministry won't be considering those things, according to School District No. 41 secretary-treasurer Ishver Khunguray.
"We're working through the details of that now," he told the NOW in a recent interview.
Khunguray explained a ministry formula determines the types of spaces and square footage in a project by looking at the number of students in the school.
"That includes gym space, music space, a bunch of different things, so we're working through that formula right now," he said.
A proposed floor plan for the addition has yet to be developed, according to Khunguray, but he said it will be more than "just a standard block of classrooms."
Once the district has some sketches to share, it will get input from school staff and parents before the project is finalized, Khunguray said.
One challenge will be making the most of the school land.
"It's not a huge space for the school, so that's going to be a consideration," he said. "It's definitely something we're thinking about, play space and what's going to be the plan for the students in the school and how do they access that during breaks and after school."
See the Burnaby school district website for more information about its long-range facilities plan.
