Media Release: Seismic Upgrades A Moral Imperative Before Merging Schools

Vancouver, BC - Parents of Dr. A.R. Lord Elementary School students are distraught over a plan to move their children to a school with the highest possible rating for collapse and loss of life in an earthquake. 

A.R. Lord is one of 12 schools targeted for possible closure by the Vancouver School Board in its attempt to secure funding for seismic upgrades. The VSB’s preliminary plan suggests moving A.R. Lord students to Sir Matthew Begbie to help meet the Ministry of Education’s requirement that Vancouver have a district-wide capacity utilization of 95 per cent to qualify for seismic funding. 

Begbie is classified as High 1 (H1), the most vulnerable structure with the highest risk of widespread damage or structural failure. A.R. Lord is a High 3 (H3), which is at risk for isolated failure to building elements such as walls.

“No child should have to go to school in an unsafe building. But to take an already unsafe school and pack it to capacity is unconscionable,” says concerned parent Lisa Patterson. “The Province’s requirement is, in effect, creating death traps for our children.” 

A.R. Lord parents are concerned not only for the lives of their own children but also of those children who already attend Begbie. Parents demand the VSB and Education Minister Mike Bernier answer the following questions:

• What is the percentage increase in risk of loss of life in an H1 building vs. an H3 building at various magnitude earthquakes?
• How does adding the weight of an additional 150 to 200 students to a three-storey H1 building affect structural damage in the event of an earthquake?
• How does having a three-storey H1 building at full capacity affect the escape and/or survival rate of children and teachers?
• What precedent is there for requiring a school district to be at 95-per-cent capacity in order to receive funding for seismic upgrades?
• In the event of an earthquake, who would be liable for the increased loss of life resulting from the merger of schools into a high-risk building – the VSB, the Province or both?

At minimum, A.R. Lord parents demand that Begbie receive seismic upgrades prior to moving their children to the school. Considering current growth rates in the student population, it is likely that A.R. Lord itself will be at 95-per-cent capacity in less than three years.

For full Media Release and Interview Contact Info: https://www.savearlord.com/province-creating-death-traps-for-school-children/