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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016 n Participants w were in a sweat aat the Workout to C Conquer Cancer f fitness event at t Richmond the O Saturday. Oval T all-day fundThe r raising challenge r raised $325,000 i support of in c cancer research. P Photo by Gord G Goble/Special to t News n See the more m pictures on The T Pulse, page 1 11.
What’s inside:
NEWS: Daycare could close if rezoning passes 3
16 schools under closure cloud Schools considered for closing Blundell Bridge Diefenbaker Dixon Errington Gilmore Grauer Lee Maple Lane McKay McKinney Mitchell Quilchena Thompson Whiteside Woodward
95 per cent student capacity required for government funding GRAEMEWOOD Staff Reporter GWOOD@RICHMOND-NEWS.COM
T
he Richmond School Board has pared down the number of schools it is considering for closure to 16. Ultimately, the board will need to close four or five schools to meet the province’s conditions for seismic remediation work. The list of 16 was recommended on Monday by Richmond School District staff in a report, which was unanimously accepted by the board. The Ministry of Education has ordered that the district must operate at 95 per cent student capacity
to qualify for much-needed seismic upgrades. Presently, the district is at 85 per cent, across all schools. Board chair Debbie Tablotney said to get to 95 per cent, four or five schools — all of them at the elementary level — will need to close, starting in September 2017. The closures may occur in phases, she said. The list was devised by considering eight conditions for closure outlined by the Ministry. A school may be considered for closure when there is sufficient space to accommodate students in neighbouring schools and at least one of those conditions (such as projected enrollment, operating costs and the number of students living in proximity to
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the school) exists. Most of the schools on the list are in central and west Richmond, as single-family neighbourhoods continue to see low or negative demographic growth for school-aged children. Schools in City Centre are, in fact, over capacity at the moment. Most schools around Steveston remained off the list as well, although Diefenbaker elementary was shortlisted. Initially, the district had 21 schools on the potential chopping block, but Debeck, Garden City, Kidd, Kingswood and Wowk elementary schools avoided the short list because little or no remediation work is needed on them. See Community page 4
BELLY DANCING: Saturday, April 9th & 23rd
RACK OF LAMB
$29.95
Tender Rack of lamb seasoned with fine herbs, served with roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables and Felicos special lamb sauce.
COMMUNITY: Pioneering family loses a patriarch 6
SPORTS: Bantam Chuckers begin season with plenty of talent 18
FELICOS PLATTER
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Greek salad, homous, satziki & pita bread, cocktail, kalamaria, chicken souvlakia, lamb souvlaki, prawns, roast potatoes, rice and seasonal vegetables. Offer valid 7 days a week with this coupon Expires April 22nd, 2016
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