Here is an update on Burke Mountain schools from Mr. Craig Hodge Councilor for the City of Coquitlam.
The Coquitlam school board outlined its’ plans for schools for Burke Mountain at a packed public meeting at Leigh school Tuesday night.
It announced plans to build the middle school on the same property as the proposed Secondary school. Located at the corner of David and Coast Meridian adjacent the 7-eleven.
The middle school was originally in the Official Community Plan to be on Riley Street. Last summer, many parents expressed concern when the school district announced it wanted to acquire property in East Partington creek instead. The advantages to placing the middle school beside the secondary school are; the land is already owned by the district, it is centrally located and the area is developed.
It will be a joint park and secondary school. Since it will now house two schools, the field will be upgraded to artificial turf to increase usage. This will be one of only three schools in the tri-cities to have an artificial sports field. Made possible through a generous $5 million dollar donation by Wesbild.
Wesbild’s President Kevin Layton was at the meeting and also announced that they will be donating 6 acres of fully serviced land in Partington Creek area to the school district for Elementary school #3.
The school district will now own all the properties that it requires for three elementary schools, a middle school and the secondary school.
Subsequently, this will leave two pieces of land originally planned for school sites (the one on Riley Street, and the ranch site at the west end of Highland) free for another use. The city will begin consultation with the current landowners. We expect they will bring a new land use proposal to a public hearing, possibly as early as this fall.
School construction is funded by the provincial government. MLA Doug Horne was also at the meeting and stated that an application from the school district to build the first elementary school (on Queenston Ave) is now before the treasury board. He expects approval for funding with in a few months.
The School board announced that it intends to build Smiling Creek Elementary (on Queenston) by 2018. It will be a joint elementary school and park. Planning and design work are now underway.
The next school will be Partington Creek Elementary School. Then they plan to build the secondary school and the middle school for 2023 followed by the third elementary school.
The main concerns raised by residents were; having to wait 8 or more years for a middle school, lack of a school bus to transport students to middle schools in Port Coquitlam during that time, and what will the two former school sites be used for.”