Jan. 21, 2010
New M.V. Beattie to be Neighbourhood Learning Centre

ENDERBY - The new $12.9-million M.V. Beattie Elementary will become home to a Neighbourhood Learning Centre offering services and programs to benefit students and the community, Shuswap MLA George Abbott announced today.

"M.V. Beattie has proudly served our community for nearly 100 years, and I am pleased that this tradition will continue for the next generation of students," said Abbott. "Once construction is complete, the new school will provide a safe, state-of-the-art learning environment and community hub."

M.V. Beattie Elementary was built in 1914, with the last of several additions completed in 1970. Government supported a replacement school in 2008. Feasibility studies recommended that a new school be constructed on the existing site with a capacity of 275 Kindergarten toGrade 7 students. The Province's investment of $12.9 million to replace this school will support approximately 82 jobs over the life of the project. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2010, and be completed by the end of 2011.

The new M.V. Beattie Elementary will include 245 square metres of space for a Neighbourhood Learning Centre. Space will also be included for the school's existing StrongStart BC early learning centre, and two classrooms in the new school will be allocated for full day kindergarten. As the project moves forward, the North Okanagan-Shuswap school district will consult with community and education partners to determine which services will be offered on site.

"Our vision is to keep schools at the core of the neighbourhoods they serve by including space for community programming," said Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid. "This new school will not only be a safe and upgraded environment for student learning, but it will also become a community asset that will serve the people of Enderby for years to come."

The Province has encouraged all school districts in B.C. to find ways to design schools with community use in mind and to create places where people have better access to educational and community services. Neighbourhood Learning Centre schools can include a variety of services such as child-care programs, office space, health clinics, sports programs, seniors' centres or family resource centres.

"The replacement of this school has been a top priority for many years for the North Okanagan-Shuswap board of education and we are thrilled that this project has been approved and is moving forward," said board chair Bobbi Johnson. "Adding a community component through the Neighbourhood Learning Centre means that this new school will provide valuable space for services that students and the general public can enjoy."

Like all new schools in B.C., the new M.V. Beattie Elementary will be constructed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold or equivalent standards. Where possible, wood products will be used in the school's construction.

The Neighbourhood Learning Centre website, www.neighbourhoods-of-learning.gov.bc.ca includes examples of some of the community services and programs already offered in schools around B.C. As well, visitors can create their own virtual centres using an interactive program.

Since 2001, four capital projects worth $9.2 million have been completed in the North Okanagan-Shuswap school district. Over the same period, the Province has spent more than $1.5 billion to complete 75 new and replacement schools, 147 additions, 26 renovation projects and 20 site acquisitions across B.C. By the end of 2009-10, the Province will have committed more than $3.8 billion in school capital and maintenance projects.

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