Vancouver School Board to hear discussion on closing city’s oldest school

The Vancouver School Board (VSB) will hold a meeting Monday evening, inviting delegations to voice their opinions on whether to permanently close the city’s oldest school building. 

The board has proposed the closure of Sir Guy Carleton Elementary, located on Kingsway near Joyce Street, saying that it is “unsuitable for safe use.” 

In 2016, a fire left the school ‘severely damaged.’ Sir Guy Carleton Elementary stopped enrolment in the same year, and no students have attended for nearly a decade.

The board also approved adjusting the Sir Guy Carleton Elementary catchment back in 2023, so that students could be dispersed to other schools.

The board says there were attempts to restore the 129-year-old school in the past, but the provincial government did not provide funding. 

The estimated costs to restore and seismically upgrade the building reached approximately $36 million back in 2019, but the board says it would have increased or even doubled based on current projects of the same size and complexity.

The board says it updated its enrolment projections earlier this year, and found that nearby schools can accommodate students “both now and in the future.” 

However, some members of the community want to save the school. 

Melanie Cheng, chair of the Vancouver District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC), started the ‘Save Carleton’ campaign against the school’s closure. 

Cheng has lived in the area all her life, and thinks “it’s definitely changed.” 

“We’re really questioning plans that the VSB has to close Carleton. We would like some more information on their plans for growth in our area, and this plan just doesn’t make sense,” said Cheng. 

‘Save Carleton’ is advocating for more public spaces, a new library, access to seismically upgraded schools, and childcare. 

In a statement to 1130 NewsRadio, the VSB says it has not yet made a decision.

“Before the board can consider the sale or lease (disposal) of a site it must first make the decision about the proposed school closure. If the board decides to close the school, it would then be able to consider disposal of the site,” it said.

Cheng says she’s heard speculation that high-rise buildings or housing could replace the school. Earlier this month, the Francophone Education Authority expressed its interest in opening a school on the site.

The board says alternative uses for the site can only be considered after a closure decision is made. 

“Potential use of the site is considered speculation at this point in time.”

Several people signed up to speak at the public delegation Monday night at the Vancouver School Board Education Centre. Cheng says members of the community will be there to show their support. 

“We’ll be bringing the thousands of petition signatures that we have collected. We will show them that this community cares and that they need to stop this plan that doesn’t make sense and start engaging with our community on the ground,” Cheng said.

The VSB said it will take community feedback into consideration and decide the school’s future in a public board meeting in December.