D grade for conditions

Photo: Google Street View

Many schools within the Vernon School District don't make the grade, according to a lengthy report presented to trustees this week.

“It is also noted that with the exception of Vernon Secondary School and Coldstream Elementary which are newer facilities in excellent shape, Vernon School District schools are rated in poor or very poor condition,” stated the Long Term Facilities Plan.

Assessments found 10 facilities, including one secondary school, six elementary schools and three other buildings to be in very poor condition, while 11 others were considered to be in poor condition.

“I was shocked," said board chair Kelly Smith, of the report. “My question was to ask assurance that the poor conditions had nothing to do with safety, and I was assured they did not.”

“It was about deferred maintenance,” Smith said, explaining that when a building is in very poor condition it sometimes costs more to fix it than to build a new building.

The report stated the district offices were in the worst condition, with a very poor rating and a deferred maintenance cost equal to 86 per cent of replacement value of the building.

"Our employees work in outbuildings with no washrooms so they run through the rain and snow to get to the washroom," said Smith. "There is no handicapped access on either floor."

Smith conceded that when changes to the offices were brought forward in the past, the board said no, using the money for other projects.

The report made a a series of recommendations.

One called for the replacement of Charles Bloom Secondary in Lumby with a smaller school or with a model grades K-12 school.

It also called for replacement projects be identified in the Five Year Capital Plan for both Silver Star Elementary and BX Elementary to address the current and projected overcrowding and very poor facility condition at both elementary schools.

Also, that an addition to Alexis Park Elementary be included in the plan as a high priority project.

The long term facilities plan is expected to be posted on the district's website.