School District 43 is moving full steam ahead on plans for a new board office more than a year after it first made the project public.
Pegged at $20.1 million in 2016 when the project first came to light, the new administrative building would house offices for staff, meeting rooms and an emergency command centre.
It is now slated to cost $33 million, with funds coming from the sale of Coronation Park elementary school lands. (The former Coronation Park elementary was sold in December 2015 for $25.1 million.)
Tuesday, the board of education approved spending $2 million to hire an architect and consultants, and confirmed it had 70% of the funds for the project, with plans to obtain the rest through lease revenues, investment income and operational surplus.
Built in 1957 and described as too small for staff, with some meeting rooms and storage areas converted to offices, as well as lacking accessible entrances for people in wheelchairs, the current offices are inadequate, trustees were told.
The board offices — dubbed an "education learning centre" — would be able to consolidate staff who are currently working at five sites as well as host an emergency command centre. The potential for live streaming public board meetings was also raised.
“To retain good people,” you need a “good place to work,” said Port Coquitlam Trustee Judy Shirra, who called the current building “a bloody nightmare.”
Centennial secondary, which is next door, also needs the site for parking, trustees were told.
The district’s assistant secretary treasurer for facilities and planning services, Ivano Cecchini, said more work, including soil testing and consulting with neighbours, needs to be done to determine the preferred site.
Two possible locations have been identified: Vanier Centre, a former elementary school, located at 1600 King Albert Ave. in Coquitlam; or land next to Winslow Centre, at 1100 Winslow Ave., which currently houses the International Education and Learning Services departments.
Port Moody Trustee Keith Watkins said it’s important to consult with residents who might object to the building before spending any money on the project and opposed the plan. Lisa Park, the other PoMo trustee, also voted against the plan because of the costs.
Secretary treasurer Chris Nicolls pointed out that school funds can’t be used for new board offices, which is why money was earmarked two years ago for the project. “It’s in the bank,” Nicolls said.
Moving everyone into one building that can also house professional development programs was another justification for the new board offices.
“I think it’s very efficient. It’s a priority that I support,” said Coquitlam Trustee Carol Cahoon.
