What’s inside:
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016
NEWS: Police search for SUV linked to developer's homicide 4
ARTS: Choir celebrates 15th anniversary 13
n An estimated 100 parents and children braved rainy skies Saturday in front of MLA John Yap`s constituency office, in Steveston, to protest the provincial government’s “ransom” on children’s safety. Photo by Gord Goble/Special to the News
Parents protest closures
Ministry seeks to clarify ‘asset management’ guidelines for SD38 Graeme Wood
Staff Reporter gwood@richmond-news.com
A
vocal group of parents turned up in Steveston, at MLA John Yap’s office Saturday morning, to protest the Ministry of Education’s order to close schools to receive seismic upgrades. “Richmond has come to a crossroad. Either we accept the decisions handed down by the Ministry of Education and the school board, or we make it known that Richmond parents and their supporters will fight to hold them accountable,” said
Kim Nowitsky, a parent of Bridge elementary, and one of many PAC organizers of a city-wide petition that is believed to have reached 3,000 signatures as of Monday. Parent Kelly Greene, of Diefenbaker elementary, told the several dozen rain-soaked, but determined, parents that about 6,700 students attend a school that is “not safe in the event of a major earthquake.” Greene said the policy that the Ministry demand school districts reach near capacity, in order to qualify for seismic upgrades, is tantamount to holding children’s
safety as “ransom.” What “capacity,” or “utilization threshold” means exactly is, however, a matter of debate between the Ministry and the Richmond School District. Last week, a Ministry spokesperson told the Richmond News the Ministry has not mandated that the district must reach district-wide 95 per cent capacity, or utilization, to qualify for facility upgrades, as previously suggested by the district. In letters sent last week from the Ministry, to the district and Board of Education, it appears as though 95 per cent is, howev-
er, considered a “best practice” in “asset management.” Board chair Debbie Tablotney said the district had been guiding its school closure policies with 95 per cent as “a target and guideline,” and she was “a little shocked” to hear otherwise. Tablotney said the Ministry is now “in the process of changing their capital plan instructions. They’re seeking to clarify their instructions.” “The long and short is we won’t get seismic upgrades unless we” increase capacity by See Parents page 4
COMMUNITY: Mary's Barn open for business 14
SPORTS: Country Club hosts pro tennis event
27
Free EXPERT ADVICE from RICHMOND’S REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL FREE No Obligation Home Evaluation Award Winning Service and Results
Call Now!
Richmond Specialist
604-649-0108 • www.tonyling.com