July 11, 2012

The replacement of Carson Graham Secondary is nearing completion. The construction team is taking advantage of the summer break to remove asbestos and other hazardous materials in the old school prior to the return of students in the fall. Hazardous material abatement is required before the old building can be demolished.

The priority for demolition in this phase are portions of the old building adjacent to the new school’s entrance. This work will be followed by further demotion of the remaining concreate block section of the old school over the fall and winter.

Summer work also includes the severing of the temporary electrical, heating, telephone and data service lines originating in the old building. Permanent service connections for the new building are in place and are being tested over the summer.

Grade 8, 9 and 10 classrooms at the Balmoral campus have been packed and moves are underway to the new building. Sorting the contents of the old Carson Graham building is now complete and teachers will be able to access the school the week before Labour Day to begin setting up their classrooms.

While Carson Graham students will begin September in their new school, considerable work remains. Demolition will be followed by construction of a new access road, sidewalks, parking lots and landscaping. Completion of the new school grounds is expected by spring of 2013.

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Steel installation is now complete on the new Carson Graham and crews are concentrating on completing the roof so that the trades on site can continue their work rain-free throughout the winter. Steel stud crews, electricians, plumbers and heating mechanics are all on site now.

A call for Expressions of Interest has been released for contractors to install the school’s solar thermal panels and solar photo voltaic panels. The panels will provide a small portion of the schools electricity and hot water. The provider will be selected this winter and the work will subsequently be scheduled for the New Year. Once complete, Carson Graham will be the first location in the North Vancouver School District to include this component of sustainablility in its design. The school roof’s large expanse of unshaded, southern-exposed surface area is key to the suitability of this feature at Carson.

Progress in completing the building is on track for completion in the summer of 2012. In the final phase of building work, the concrete block section of the building will be demolished and replaced by a new access road, sidewalks,  parking lots and landscaping.

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July 11, 2011 view of the main concourse from a second floor bridge.	Three-storey steel frame taking form at Carson Graham Secondary.

July 12, 2011

We are now in the tenth month of rebuilding Carson Graham Secondary. Approximately half of the building’s steel columns have been erected, and steel installation should be completed by the fall. Mechanical, plumbing and electrical crews are all on site. The form of the building is taking shape, and some of the interior walls have been constructed.

Consultation with school administrators, staff and student representatives has begun on a solar demonstration energy project for the new school. Solar panels will generate energy that is intended to contribute not only to the sustainable operation of the building, but also its overarching educational purpose. Recommendations from the consultation process will help inform decisions on how the solar-produced energy might be directed to serve both sustainability and learning.

Completion is currently projected for the summer of 2012 and students and staff are expected to begin the 2012/2013 school year in the new building.

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February 21, 2011

The photographs above illustrate a new stage in the progress of rebuilding Carson Graham. Cement was poured in the foundations for the C and D wings on Friday, February 18th.

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February 10, 2011

On September 28th, 2010 following a public tender, the contract to construct the Carson Graham replacement school was awarded to ITC Commercial Contractors.  Construction of the 1,100 student school began immediately, and the building is expected to be complete in the spring of 2012.  Demolition of the old buildings and site work and landscaping will follow the completion of the new building in the summer and fall of 2012.

Excavation is now complete, and work is progressing on under-slab plumbing and electrical services, and foundations.  Weather permitting, all foundations will be poured and concrete slabs will be in place by the beginning of March.  Steel is scheduled to arrive on site mid-February, with erection of columns to begin later in the month. 

At this point, staff and students are schedule to begin school in the new building following Spring Break of 2012.  This is a complex project with many critically timed interdependent activities so the schedule can easily change due to unforeseen circumstances.  Any change in the projected date of move-in will be announced prior to the end of the current school year.

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February 16, 2010

Ministry Announcement: Increased Capacity Approved

In a letter from the Ministry of Education on February 11, 2010 , the Honourable Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid confirmed the approval of increased capacity for Carson Graham Secondary School.  Carson Graham Secondary has been approved for an increased capacity to a total of 1,100 student spaces.

Balmoral Junior Secondary School will be closed when the Carson Graham Capital Project is completed. The increased capacity of Carson Graham School accommodates the future student population in the Carson Graham and Balmoral catchment areas.

Link to letter from the Minister of Education


February 2, 2010

At the Public Finance and Facilities meeting on January 26, 2010, Ian Abercrombie, Director of Facilities and Planning, provided an update on the progress of the Carson Graham Capital Project. 
Click to view the presentation

The Carson Graham Secondary Replacement School is a two-phase project:

Phase 1 has been underway since July of 2009. Phase I initially concentrated on preparing temporary accommodation at Carson and Balmoral in anticipation of demolition of over half of the existing school. Demolition and the removal of foundations are scheduled to be complete by March 2010. The installation of civil services including storm and sanitary sewer connections for the replacement school will follow, and will be complete in May.

Phase 2 includes the construction of the replacement school. It is scheduled to start in June 2010, and be complete for September 2012. This will be followed by demolition of the remaining 1960s portions of the school and completion of site work and landscaping.

Design development of Phase 2 is nearing completion. This has benefited from focussed discussion with educators representing all departments at Carson Graham and Balmoral.

The new school has also benefited from leading edge contemporary school design theory from outside of our school district. Carson’s status as an International Baccalaureate registered school has enriched the design process. An aspect of the IB program is that academic courses are combined with “hands-on” experiential activities. In early October a group of teachers, students, administrators, and the architect visited several Seattle area schools that subscribed to the internationally-acclaimed “Project Lead the Way” pre-engineering program. The design of the “Prototype Lab” overlooking the more traditional carpentry and metal shops in the new Carson Graham School builds on these Seattle case studies, and enhances its ability to be an IB leader.

The school is being designed to achieve LEED Gold certification. An energy modelling study on the proposed design is scheduled to occur in February.

Graham Hoffart Mathiasen Architects have commenced working drawings, which will be completed for tender in May, and start of Phase 2 construction in June.

Please refer to the bus schedule for students needing transportation between Carson Graham and Balmoral.

May 4, 2009

Subject:  The process for input into the proposed closure of Balmoral Junior Secondary School  and consolidation with Carson Graham Secondary School
[Print Copy]

Board Policy 610: Closure of Schools (Permanent) provides for input into the proposed closures of schools.  In regards to Balmoral Junior Secondary School and its potential closure and consolidation with Carson Graham Secondary School, the input process is solely coordinated through a “Balmoral Response Team” and a “Carson Graham Response Team”.

These Response Teams are officially recognized as the representative bodies that will provide the Board of Education with the response to the proposed closure of Balmoral and consolidation with Carson Graham Secondary.

In order to ensure that information is gathered in a coordinated manner and to assist with the preparation of the Report of the Balmoral Response Team and the Carson Graham Response Team, all parents and community members are requested to provide their input on the proposed closure of Balmoral and consolidation with Carson Graham School through their respective Response Teams.  This will help ensure that accurate, clear and consistent information is being provided to our community regarding this important matter. 

It appears that there may be some confusion in our community resulting from communications initiated by a group of parents who are advocating a particular position related to the potential closure of Balmoral. 

Please note that any and all input on the potential closure/consolidation will be directed to the Response Teams. 

Opportunities for input to the proposed closure of Balmoral and consolidation with Carson Graham have included the provision of  Input forms at the proposed closure meeting, at the Towards the Future for Schools meetings held across the School District, and made available on the School District’s website at www.nvsd44.bc.ca.

The respective Response Teams will receive and collate all input provided through the completion of Input forms and all other written submissions to provide the perspective of the schools and their communities.  Input forms and written submissions shall be provided to the Balmoral Response Team at brt@nvsd44.bc.ca and to the Carson Graham Response Team at crt@nvsd44.bc.ca by no later than Friday, May 15, 2009 for consideration in the reports of the Response Teams to the Board of Education. 
 
Thank you for your cooperation.

John Lewis
Superintendent of Schools


April 6, 2009

The North Vancouver Board of Education is committed to its vision--to provide world-class instruction and a rich diversity of engaging programs to inspire success for every student and bring communities together to learn, share, and grow. 

Declining enrolment, aging facilities, and funding restraint are the expected realities that will impact planning decisions for the next decade.  Fewer students mean less funding and more unused space.  The Board of Education must make difficult decisions to address these issues while maintaining its focus on providing rich educational opportunities for students in welcoming, safe, and sustainable facilities that enhance the learning and teaching environment.

As the Board of Education has decided to proceed with the consideration of the consolidation of Balmoral Junior Secondary School and Carson Graham Secondary School, with the potential closure of Balmoral School in June 2012, a consultative process is now proceeding in accordance with Policy 610: Closure of Schools (Permanent).  This process provides all members of the School District and its community with opportunities for input with consideration by the Board.

The consultation process includes public meetings, input opportunities, the coordination of response reports from schools, and careful consideration of alternatives to a potential closure.  The Board of Trustees is interested in receiving your input into the proposed closure of Balmoral.  Your input will assist the Board of Education in its decision-making process.

On April 1, 2009, the Board held a Community Consultation Meeting at Balmoral Junior Secondary School.  

Community Consultation Presentation - April 1, 2009

Pertinent Data and Information - Factors for Consideration

Input Form - Proposal to Consider School Closure and Consolidation


For more information about the Balmoral / Carson Graham Capital Project consultation process, please see Balmoral School Community Consultation.

More information is also available at Towards the Future For Schools


February 16, 2009

Community Meeting on February 5, 2009 - Follow Up Information

A public meeting was held at Sutherland Secondary School on February 5, 2009 to discuss the Capital Project for the replacement of Carson Graham Secondary School.  We have collated the table group responses and a summary is attached.

Assistant Superintendent Dave Pearce will be attending a portion of the Balmoral and Carson Graham Parent Advisory Council (PAC) meetings this week.  He will be available to answer preliminary questions and discuss the next steps.  Mr. Pearce will also be putting out a call for a representative steering committee to assist us with the transition plan.

The tenants in Balmoral School will be contacted at the earliest opportunity by Sandy Shaw, the School District’s Manager of Community and Business Development, to determine their needs and whether we have space available to accommodate them in one or some of our current school buildings.

We will be providing you with regular updates and notice of any community meetings to discuss the project.

Jane Thornthwaite
Chairperson
Board of Education


February 10, 2009

Community Meetings - Capital Projects - February 5, 2009

Thank you to everyone who came out to learn more and share their thoughts on the recently announced Capital Projects for Ridgeway, Queen Mary and Carson Graham Schools last Thursday evening at Ridgeway and Sutherland Schools. We are grateful to have been awarded $70 million dollars of Ministry funds for the seismic upgrades and replacement schools in addition to our partnership with the City of North Vancouver to assist us with the costs of Heritage Restoration.

Not only do we appreciate the input we received from the students, parents, and staff from the schools named in these projects, we also appreciate the input from Ridgeway Annex, Balmoral, Cloverley and all feeder schools who will be equally affected.

We have taken the feedback from the February 5, 2009 public information / consultation meeting and will devise a plan for moving forward with these projects. Our website will be regularly updated.

These Capital projects are different from our recent new school openings such as Westview, Sutherland, and soon to be Highlands capital projects, because we are not afforded the opportunity to build an entirely new school adjacent to the old school where the students, parents, and staff can still attend. The Ridgeway, Queen Mary, and Carson Graham projects will require that all or some of the students be moved from their school during the duration of the construction. Not only will this disrupt the students currently in these schools, but also the schools and buildings where the students will be moved to.

We will work with any displaced program or service to identify opportunities for accommodation in one or some of our buildings that will have space available. This process is currently underway. However, we believe that if we look at the long term picture of building three new schools, and work together over the transition process, the outcome will be fabulous for our community and the future direction of the School District.

Jane Thornthwaite
Chairperson
Board of Education


February 5, 2009

A public consultation meeting was held at Sutherland Secondary School to discuss the Carson Graham REPLACEMENT SCHOOL Capital Project.  An overview of the project background, timelines, and key questions and answers is posted below.

Carson Graham Public Consultation Meeting on February 5, 2009

December 17, 2008

MLA Katherine Whittred (left) and Board of Education Chairperson Jane Thornthwaite

On Wednesday, December 17, 2008 the Ministry of Education announced $70 million in funding for the seismic renovations to Ridgeway Elementary, Queen Mary Elementary and the partial replacement of Carson Graham Secondary. Ridgeway Elementary and Queen Mary Elementary will both undergo exterior restoration and extensive interior reconstruction. The Province will contribute $32.4 million and the North Vancouver Board of Education will contribute nearly $6.6 million to cover the additional costs of heritage restoration at the two schools. Sections of Carson Graham having "high" seismic risk will be replaced by a seismically-sound building at a cost of $38 million.

The announcement was made on behalf of the Ministry by MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale Katherine Whittred in the library of Ridgeway Elementary. Following the announcement, Jane Thornthwaite, chairperson of the North Vancouver Board of Education, gave the following address:

Announcing not one, but three new capital projects of this magnitude is a tremendous advancement for our School District.  I would like to thank the new Board of Education for its responsiveness in approving the project plans to allow the School District to bring these projects to the Ministry before the end of the year. As well, the support of the dedicated staff in facilities and planning created professional plans of a very high caliber and we appreciate their good work. 

The Ministry of Education’s approval and funding of the Queen Mary, Ridgeway and Carson Graham projects is a strong affirmation of our vision, as a school district, to provide welcoming, safe and sustainable facilities that enhance the learning and teaching environment. We appreciate that the Ministry supports the significance of these projects beyond seismic upgrades to create schools for the 21st century.

Beginning in September of 2009 with Ridgeway Elementary, followed by Carson Graham in 2010 and Queen Mary in 2011, each school should take about two years to complete. At the end of the process, we will have three outstanding new schools, with the front facades of Queen Mary and Ridgeway rebuilt in the heritage style so valued by the city and their neighborhoods. We know we embark on this work with the support of the community, and we are particularly appreciative of the Ridgeway Heritage Society’s dedication to preserving the heritage values of Ridgeway School. We will continue our community consultation process in the New Year to ensure the needs of parents and students are fully considered during the construction phase of each school.

We are truly grateful to the City of North Vancouver, for its fullest support in providing the options and transferable density we needed to fully fund the restoration components of the Ridgeway and Queen Mary projects. This partnership with the City could potentially serve as a standard throughout the British Columbia of how communities, municipalities and the Province can work together to honour the past while building for the future.

Thank you again, and congratulations to everyone.

Jane Thornthwaite
Chairperson
North Vancouver
Board of Education

Please consult our earlier December update for more information on these projects and the next phase of public consultation.

The full release from the Ministry of Education is presented here.

City of North Vancouver Mayor Darrell Mussatto, Board of Education Chairperson Jane Thornthwaite and MLA Katherine Whittred with students on the front steps of Ridgeway Elementary

Carson Graham Renovation and Replacement Capital Project Agreement between the Minister of Education and the Board of Education of School District No. 44 (North Vancouver)


December 11, 2008

Overview
At their December 9 meeting, the North Vancouver Board of Education approved the capital project bylaws and Master Agreement for Ridgeway and Queen Mary heritage restoration projects and the construction of a Carson Graham Secondary replacement school. Based on these approvals, the agreement will be submitted to the Ministry of Education before the 2008 Christmas break for consideration and approval. While we await the Ministry’s decision on the project plans, we will move forward in the New Year with community consultation to address the temporary relocation process for students during the construction phases of each building.

The progress we have made in the planning of these projects exemplifies the North Vancouver School District’s vision  “to provide welcoming, safe and sustainable facilities that enhance the learning and teaching environment.” Replacing Carson Graham Secondary and rebuilding Ridgeway and Queen Mary in their heritage style create greater long-term value for all three buildings and all will meet current standards for seismic resistance.

Potential construction start dates
Two years is the standard timeline required to build a school.

Ridgeway – anticipated construction start: September 2009
Carson Graham – anticipated construction start: September 2010
Queen Mary – anticipated construction start: September 2011

Questions & Answers

General

Why did the board approve these capital project agreements for Ridgeway, Queen Mary and Carson Graham at this time?
Carson Graham and Queen Mary schools were both identified as high priority for seismic upgrades several years ago. Ridgeway was approved in 2004 as a possible replacement project with similar seismic needs. The Ministry of Education is committed to improving its progress on facilitating and funding seismic upgrades for schools throughout the province.

Significant background research, feasibility studies and long-term planning has gone in to each project proposal. Preparing the Carson Graham plan required extensive meetings and consultation with the Ministry of Education to ensure understanding of the higher long-term value in replacing the school, rather than only performing a seismic upgrade. The heritage qualities of Ridgeway and Queen Mary created cost challenges for the Board. After extensive consultation with community representatives and the City of North Vancouver an innovative approach to source the additional funding required for Ridgeway to extend the project beyond seismic upgrades and secure the heritage values of the building was developed. The knowledge gained through this consultation and planning process has been applied to advance the Queen Mary project.

Carson Graham Secondary

Why is the capacity for Carson Graham proposed as 800?
The Ministry of Education determined, based on projected enrollment decline, that capacity to accommodate 800 students is appropriate for the new school. However, the core amenity space for Carson will be built to accommodate 1,100 students. In this way, the possibility of increased capacity is available if needed. Capacity will be revisited in the community consultation process, and the flexibility remains to consider a larger school.

Will Carson students need to be relocated during the construction phase?
Yes, beginning in September 2009.  It’s anticipated that approximately 240 Carson Graham students will need to be temporarily relocated for the construction period.  Many of these students will be temporarily accommodated at Balmoral Junior Secondary School.  We have the capacity to accommodate all of the students within the School District. 

Why can’t the new school be built on a different part of property to allow Carson student to remain in the “old school” during construction?
Carson Graham does not have the physical space to build the new school on a different portion of property. A process of selective destruction of the existing school will be undertaken, during which a portion of the student population will be relocated to Balmoral.