The question of new schools in Willoughby heated up last week, as the Langley Board of Education revealed that the construction of new schools will be more challenging in the future.
The ministry of education has stated it is no longer accepting five-year capital plans, which in the past have allowed for longer-term planning for new schools and additions to existing schools.
In addition, the ministry wants school districts to pay for more of the capital cost of new schools, with much of that to come from land sales of surplus school sites.
The big challenge in Langley will be in Willoughby. While a new middle school has just opened, the number of students continues to overwhelm the space available. Nowhere is this more noticeable than at R.E. Mountain Secondary, which has an additional 300 students this year.
Mountain is now a Grade 9-12 school, thanks to the opening of Yorkson Creek Middle School, but there are far too many students for one high school in Willoughby.
During the board discussion last week, trustees were told there is $4 million available (in local funds) to build a new high school in Willoughby — a school that will cost at least $60 million.
The discussion at the board table spilled over to a liaison meeting between the Township and board of education last week. The two Township councillors who were at that meeting had lengthy posts on Facebook after that meeting, addressing the challenge of building new schools when the population is growing rapidly.
Their comments are posted on The Times’ Facebook page and are well worth reading.
Councillor Charlie Fox said: “I can assure you, when you know all the facts, we are working in harmony with our School District 35 colleagues to respond to the need moving forward.”
Councillor Michelle Sparrow wasn’t quite as optimistic.
“How can we on council be expected to continue to vote to approve new Neighbourhood Plans for the Willoughby area, with now knowing for certain, there will be no new schools to accommodate the students even if the growth continues in Willoughby? In my opinion we can’t, given this information.”
Fort Langley-Aldergrove MLA Rich Coleman has also weighed in on the issue.
In a letter to the editor (see page 7), he stated “Funding will be available in the future once a proper business case can be made and is not dependent on any prescribed formula or contribution. While provincial funding is a significant component of any new school construction, the business case includes an assessment of the school district ability to contribute, given their financial and overall asset base. School districts are important stewards of public assets and a close and detailed examination of their entire asset base is an important part of this business case as we look at funding options.”
The bottom line from all the comments is that there is an ongoing effort to provide at least a high school in Willoughby, but how it will be funded is far from clear.
Sparrow’s comments about continuing to plan for future growth, in light of the challenges of building new schools, also merit some thought.