Brighouse gets new quake-proof school
Richmond News
December 3, 2008

A 43-year-old elementary school on the edge of the city centre will be replaced with a brand new one.

But despite an anticipated need for a new school in the city centre, it is not being built to accommodate future growth ….However, it may be built with things like all-day kindergarten and neighbourhood learning programs in mind.

The Ministry of Education last week announced it will provide $15 million to replace the old Samuel Brighouse elementary school.

… Enrolment in Richmond is generally on the decline -- about five per cent since 2001.

However, rapid densification in the city centre has some school trustees worried about finding a new site to school the growing population.

… Ministry of Education does not build schools based on estimates of future needs.

… One thing the design team may be factoring into the new school's design is all-day kindergarten, Thorliefson said.

Accommodating provincially mandated all-day kindergarten has school trustees wondering how they will accommodate the increased demand for class space without sacrificing the many before and after school programs now operating in local schools.

The province also wants schools adopting a neighbourhood learning model in which schools are used for all kinds of educational purpose, including adult education….