Lord Kitchener Elementary School PAC

Positive support for the proposed Kitchener School seismic upgrade was expressed by a vast majority of the 100+ parents and community members that attended the VSB Kitchener School Seismic Upgrade Open House held on February 3rd. A few days earlier, on January 27th, VSB held a district-wide symposium on 21st century schools that was attended by Kitchener School Principal Rosemary Love, Vice Principal Lorraine Terretta, Teacher Susan Dent, and PAC Seismic Cttee Co-Chair Kosta ChatziSpiros. Now the interior layout and use of learning/teaching spaces for the new school is being worked on in meetings with architects, Kitchener School teachers and administration staff, VSB staff, and PAC Seismic Cttee members.

In 2004 the Province determined that Lord Kitchener School occupants are at high risk in the event of an earthquake. Independent engineers also determined that saving the unreinforced masonry building (brick structure) would be more costly and result in a less safe structure compared to a new replacement building. Subsequently, VSB proposed retaining and upgrading the Heritage “A” Frame Building and replacing the masonry building with a design that highlights the original heritage structure. Project details are available at http://www.vsb.bc.ca/district-facilities/projects/lord-kitchener-elementary.

After protracted but ultimately successful lobbying the Province committed in March 2009 the required funding for the VSB proposal. The new school will accommodate 450 elementary students, 60 full-time kindergarten students, 60 early learning/pre-K children, and 40 children in before/after school care. The design will also enable improved and secure community use after school hours or in case of disaster. The new seismically safe school is scheduled to open in the autumn of 2012.

For more information, please contact Doug Campbell at Doug.Campbell@Dolby.com or Kosta ChatziSpiros at KChatz@shaw.ca.