The New Westminster school district is inviting parents and caregivers to learn more about its long-range plans to cope with growth and crowded schools.
School District 40 has released an updated draft of its long-range facilities plan, and it's hosting information sessions in early October to share school data, outline its ongoing work and talk about anticipated upcoming needs in the district.
Two information sessions are planned: an in-person meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 3, and a Zoom meeting on Thursday, Oct. 5.
The long-range facilities plan serves as the "road map" the district uses when it makes capital submissions to the Ministry of Education and Child Care for funding to build or expand schools, a letter from the district explains.
"While we previously updated this document every five years, with the rapid rate of growth in our district, we’re now refreshing this plan every 18 to 24 months, to ensure we keep up to date on enrolment projections and, if necessary, updating the recommendations and requests with the ministry. We are committed to doing everything we can to support students and families in New Westminster," reads the letter.
The 78-page plan outlines the existing state of schools in New Westminster and its projections up to 2037, looking at enrolment, school capacity, development and land use — and how the district will meet the needs of a rapidly growing community with limited space for school sites.
It outlines the need for two new elementary schools and one new middle school in the district by 2037, as well as a proposal to add a future secondary wing to Queensborough Middle School to cope with growth at New Westminster Secondary School, SD40's only high school.
You can find the full draft of the long-range facilities plan at the New Westminster school district website.
Find out more: SD40 host long-range facilities plan info meetings
The school district is hosting two meetings: one in-person and one virtual.
- In person: Tuesday, Oct. 3, 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the theatre at New Westminster Secondary School (seating will be first come, first served)
- Online: Thursday, Oct. 5, 6:30 to 8 p.m.,, via Zoom Link
The district asks that questions on the content of the report be sent to [email protected] by Sept. 28.
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