Capital Plan
A five year draft capital plan including a new gym for Len Wood and a new elementary school in Salmon Arm was approved by the Board of Trustees at the June 18th meeting at the District Education Support Centre (DESC).
Secretary-Treasurer Alanna Cameron explained to the Board there is a bit of a timing challenge as the five year plan is supposed to be based on the district’s long range plan, however, SD83’s is not yet ready. On the other hand, the Ministry wants the capital plan to be submitted by June 30th.
Cameron commented that once approved by the Board, she would send the draft plan and an explanation to the Ministry saying in order to meet the guideline and the deadline the district is submitting a draft, which reflects the best of knowledge at this point in time. She told trustees to expect to see the plan again in September when any refinements could be made, once the district receives more information on its pending long range facilities plan.
The draft five year capital plan includes a request for $2.2 million to add a gym to Len Wood Middle as well as $31 million for a new elementary school for Salmon Arm.
Under the school enhancement program and the carbon neutral capital program the district is requesting funding for the following projects:
- Health and Safety Upgrades – A.L. Fortune Secondary & Eagle River Secondary, bring dust collection system up to current standards to comply with WCB standards.
- Mechanical Upgrade – SAS – Sullivan Campus – new boilers – Energy and cost savings.
- Heating and Ventilation Upgrade (Phase 4) – replace HVAC system at Eagle River Secondary and A.L. Fortune – energy and cost savings.
- Carbon Neutral Capital Program – SAS – Jackson Campus – new boilers – to improve energy consumption; Falkland Elementary – DDC Upgrade – to improve energy consumption; and South Canoe Elementary – DDC Upgrade – to improve energy consumption.
Under the bus inventory and program the district is applying for five bus replacements and under the playground equipment program the district is applying for universally accessible playground equipment for South Canoe, Armstrong Elementary and Highland Park.
Cameron explained a board of education’s five-year capital plan should reflect a strategy for balancing the supply of existing facilities against both current and projected enrolment demands. This plan should also reflect the replacement or rejuvenation of existing facilities, including seismic upgrades and building envelope remediation.
The five-year capital plan should be based on a comprehensive School District Facilities Plan (SDFP). Such plans take into consideration education program requirements and trends; operating capacities and current condition of existing facilities; current and anticipated changes
in land use; student yield rates; community demographics; local community and economic development strategies; and other long-term planning considerations.