The Hope
Standard
Hope Eagles are hosting a provincial convention June 4-8 B1-8
Office: 604.869.2421 www.hopestandard.com
THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014
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A4 THIEVES BREAK
INTO HOPE SHED
Local police are looking for the public’s help in identifying the suspects
A9 NEW EXHIBIT AT
ARTS GALLERY
Back room showcases pen and ink work of Amanda DeShane in June
KERRIE-ANN SCHOENIT / THE STANDARD
Teachers strike A11 COMPETITION A
Teachers in the Fraser-Cascade school district were behind picket lines Monday as part of rotating strikes around the province this week. Teachers camped out in front of district buildings with signs, waving to passing cars. Teachers are lobbying for a fair contract, as well as improvements to class size, class composition and other student learning conditions.
TEST OF STRENGTH
Hope’s Marcus Zerr recently competed at the arm wrestling nationals
INSIDE
Opinion . . . . . . . . . . A6 Community . . . . A9 Sports . . . . . . . . . . A11 Classifieds . . . A13 $
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School district considers C.E. Barry closure Public consultation meetings will start in June Kerrie-Ann Schoenit Hope Standard
The Fraser-Cascade school district is considering the closure of C.E. Barry due to the cost of required seismic mitigation. More than 100 parents, teachers and students packed into the commons room at Hope secondary on Tuesday night to find out the district’s plan for the future of the 42-year-old middle school. Trustees voted in favour of pursuing a public consultation process starting in June.
“This process was pushed on the board. Everybody would have been satisfied to upgrade the building,” said secretary treasurer Natalie Lowe-Zucchet during her presentation. “It’s been a fairly lengthy process and it’s not something we’re taking lightly.” On May 12, 2012, the government announced $122 million of new capital funding to carry out structural upgrades for 14 school with high seismic risk. C.E. Barry was identified as a vulnerable structure at high risk of wide-
spread damage or structural collapse, likely not reparable after a major seismic event. Lowe-Zucchet said as the process progressed and ministry budgets tightened, the government required more information. The school board was directed to focus on seismic upgrades to ensure safety, not school renewal, and pursue the lowest cost option. Engineering consultants were hired to produce a seismic project identification report for C.E Barry, with solutions for structur-
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al upgrades to address life safety. The detailed cost estimate for the work came in at $4 million. Due to excess school capacity, the ministry asked the district to examine the costs for additions and demolition in comparison to maintaining the school. In particular, the government requested a review of the ongoing operational costs and current life cycle costs. The district has to prove there’s a need for C.E. Barry, despite declining enrolment. Continued on A3
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