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Education minister announces new seismic funding for Kitsilano elementary school

Mike Bernier addresses defamation allegations from fired trustees, dismisses holding byelection to replace them at any point during the next year

While earthquake preparedness was the order of the day, there was no seismic shift Thursday in the rhetoric being volleyed between Education Minster Mike Bernier and recently fired Vancouver School Board trustees.

On hand at Lord Tennyson elementary for a seismic upgrade funding announcement, Bernier was repeatedly pressed on whether he will apologize to the four Vision Vancouver trustees were ousted two weeks ago.

Through their defamation lawyer Bryan Baynham, Vision trustees Mike Lombardi, Patti Bacchus, Joy Alexander and Allan Wong issued a statement earlier this week demanding an apology and retraction from Bernier for suggesting they had a part in creating a toxic work environment at the school board.

Bernier noted that his staff are reviewing Baynham’s letter, and that he’ll respond in “due course.”

He stopped short of apologizing or characterizing what he’s said as defamation.

“I stand behind my decision to dismiss the board,” he said.

Bernier also dismissed the notion of holding a byelection to replace the nine trustees, who were replaced by former Delta superintendent Dianne Turner, at any point during Turner’s 12-month tenure.

“I think it’s fair to say that what we need in Vancouver is stability,” he said. “We need to move forward. We have had years and years that we have to put behind us and move forward for the students.”

tennyson
Lord Tennyson elementary school. Photo Dan Toulgoet

As for the matter at hand, Tennyson will be completely re-built to modern seismic code by 2020. The $24.5-million project begins in 2018 and will include a neighbourhood learning centre. The French immersion school is home to more than 400 students from kindergarten up to Grade 7.

It’s one of nine seismic upgrades currently on the docket in Vancouver, and those projects are worth close to $250 million. Premier Christy Clark said seismic funds would be made available to 16 Vancouver schools — including Tennyson — in 2013.

Bernier said the project was ready “quite a while ago,” but remained in a holding pattern because an agreement with the school board was not in place.

The school was built in 1912, while the gym was renovated in 1957. Students will remain in the original building for the duration of construction, and a new facility will be built on the same parcel of land.

“We’re very pleased to know that we’re progressing through the stages of the seismic mitigation program,” said Tennyson parent advisory council chair Tam Cummings. “It gives us a sense of relief knowing that we’re one step closer to having a seismically safer school for our children.” 

jkurucz@vancourier.com

@JohnKurucz