Five schools promised a 'new life'; Pilot project to deliver education, services year-round to all ages
Vancouver Sun
September 4, 2008 
By: Janet Steffenhagen

Premier Gordon Campbell put the brakes on school closures Wednesday, saying his government wants to give schools new life as neighbourhood hubs that deliver education and services year-round to all ages.

The plan will begin with a $30-million pilot project at three Vancouver schools …and two rural schools yet to be identified. The lessons learned will be spread across the province to rejuvenate all public schools, especially those hurt by declining enrolments, he said at a news conference.

The announcement marks a significant policy shift for a government that has long urged boards of education to cut costs by getting rid of surplus space. Boards will no longer be able to dispose of properties without explicit government approval.

"Our schools are a critical component of our communities," Campbell said, adding that the Neighbourhoods of Learning project will allow people to access educational and community services under one roof.

The five schools will work with municipal governments and parents to determine what services they should offer, Campbell said, suggesting they could include kindergarten for three- and four-year-olds, daycares, senior centres, theatres, sporting events and community gardens.

As neighbourhood hubs, they might be open year-round and possibly in the evenings, he added.

For many communities, the announcement comes too late. More than 170 public schools have closed since the Liberals were elected in 2001 and amended the funding formula to encourage boards to dispose of excess space.

"There are things that have happened that we can't undo," the premier said when asked about those closures. "The past ... is prologue; the future is what we decide it's going to be. This is a way that we can build an even brighter future for our schools, for our neighbourhoods and for our students."

Irene Lanzinger, president of the B.C. Teachers' Federation, said she supports the idea of neighbourhood hubs but regrets that the plan comes too late for many communities. As well, she questioned the decision to spend $30 million on five schools when many more are in need.

"Those schools will benefit and it will be great for them. But there are 1,600 schools in the province and every one should have the resources they need," she stated….