Questions and Answers

  • Q1: How many classrooms do you need for full-day kindergarten in B.C. and how are you providing that space?
  • Q2: How much is government investing in new full-day kindergarten classrooms?
  • Q3: Why are you providing modular classrooms to some schools, renovating others and even re-opening an old school, despite declining enrolment in B.C.?
  • Q4: What is a modular classroom?
  • Q5: What is it about modular classrooms that make them so unique?
  • Q6: Will modular classrooms be safe for kindergarten use?
  • Q7: When will construction on all of the modular classrooms be finished?
  • Q8: When is the first modular going to be delivered?
  • Q9: How many modular classrooms are being built?
  • Q10: How many school districts are receiving modular classrooms?
  • Q11: How did the Ministry determine the features of the new modular classrooms?
  • Q12: What is Shelter Industries?
  • Q13: When will all of the new or renovated classroom spaces be completed?

    • Q1:  How many classrooms do you need for full-day kindergarten in B.C. and how are you providing that space? Top of page.

    Currently, we have more than 1,430 kindergarten classrooms and we need approximately 2,100 in total.

    A six-step action plan has been put in place to guide the delivery of classroom space for the approximately 40,000 students expected to enter full-day kindergarten in 2011, including:

    • Newly designed modular classrooms;
    • New classroom space created by:
    • A new elementary school in Langley;
    • New school space within the Pomeroy Sports Centre (Enerplex) in Fort St. John;
    • Additions to 21 schools in the Lower Mainland, Capital Regional District, Campbell River and Central Okanagan;
    • Renovations to the resource centre next to Cataline Elementary school in Williams Lake;
    • The re-opening of Anne McClymont Primary in Kelowna; and
    • Approximately $10 million for furnishing and equipment grants – $15,000 per classroom – which includes the conversion of existing surplus classrooms to full-day kindergarten.

    Q2: How much is government investing in new full-day kindergarten classrooms?Top of page.

    To help support B.C. school districts with the introduction and expansion of full-day kindergarten programs in their elementary schools, the Province is investing $144.5-million – in addition to $365 million in operating funding over three years– to re-purpose existing school spaces and to create new classrooms in B.C. schools.

    About $30 million will go towards the construction of 138 new modular classrooms for 25 school districts. Districts will also receive more than $20 million to cover costs related to the preparation of school sites for the modular classrooms.

    Twenty-one schools in B.C. are also receiving additions for new full-day kindergarten and elementary classrooms.

    School districts will receive $15,000 for each surplus classroom that will be converted to kindergarten use, as well as all new classrooms – for equipment and furnishings – worth about $10 million.

    Q3: Why are you providing modular classrooms to some schools, renovating others and even re-opening an old school, despite declining enrolment in B.C.? Top of page.

    Several school districts have some neighbourhoods that are growing and others that are experiencing enrolment declines. The Ministry has been working closely with school districts to determine what they need on a community-by-community basis. 

    In planning capital investments to ensure that classrooms are available to accommodate full-day kindergarten, the ministry and school districts focused on using existing facilities wherever possible. 

    This is why the approved funding will provide for more than 400 conversions of surplus Grade 1-7 classrooms for kindergarten use, and why Anne McClymont Primary school in Kelowna will re-open its doors in September 2011.

    Unfortunately, other closed schools are generally in neighbourhoods where declining enrolment is an issue, or the buildings would require too many renovations. Many communities only require one or two new classrooms. In these cases, re-opening a school is not an economically viable option.

    Where existing space was not available to meet the demands for full-day kindergarten, modular classrooms and school additions are typically the best options for providing additional space. 

    Due to the large population increases in the Willoughby area of Langley, the only reasonable solution was to build a new elementary school, which is scheduled for completion by September 2012.

    Q4: What is a modular classroom? Top of page.

    The new modular classrooms are unique, bright and open, with high ceilings and windows for plenty of natural light and cross-ventilation.

    They will be installed at about 100 school sites around the province and have been specifically designed to meet the needs of B.C. students in kindergarten to Grade 7.

    These classrooms have washrooms with plumbing roughed-in. Washrooms are usually required for kindergarten students, but not for older grades. School districts will decide whether their modular classrooms will have full washrooms depending on their needs. The Ministry of Education is providing funding to furnish and equip all modular classrooms according to district needs.

    The new modular classrooms are a permanent solution for extra school space and last about 40 years – the same as a conventional classroom. They are not the same as portables, which are used to provide temporary space for schools and typically only last 15 to 20 years.

    Q5: What is it about modular classrooms that make them so unique?Top of page.

    B.C.’s new modular classrooms have been designed by bringing together a team of experts. In this sense, these classrooms are truly unique and built specifically to accommodate students in kindergarten to Grade 7.

    They have bright colours, lots of space for storage and learning activities, and will be technology-friendly to allow students to have the same tools available in their modular classrooms as inside school buildings. The use of special ceiling panels will create excellent acoustics in the classrooms that will help children learn.

    These classrooms include a wood finish on at least half of the buildings’ exterior walls, and half of the interior walls and ceilings will be finished in visible wood to create a natural learning environment and to showcase the use of wood products. They are being built through processes that are environmentally friendly and will be resource-efficient throughout the life of the building. They can also be relocated or clustered in groups as populations and educational needs change.

    Modular classrooms meet all seismic safety standards and are capable of withstanding B.C.’s climate, including hot and cold weather, no matter where they are installed. They have an energy efficient design, along with heating and cooling systems, and can run on electric power or be fired by propane or natural gas. Flexibility was a key consideration during the design process, as the best source of energy for sites across the province will be different.

    Q6: Will modular classrooms be safe for kindergarten use?Top of page.

    Modular classrooms are built to seismic standards and have been specifically designed for B.C. students in kindergarten to Grade 7.

    Although modular classrooms are being constructed and installed to help schools offer full-day kindergarten, it will be up to schools and school districts to decide which classes are actually housed in the modulars. Many school districts have indicated they will use the modulars for the older students, thereby keeping the younger students in the main school building. 

    Modulars also have the infrastructure for washrooms should that be appropriate for the school and the students.

    Q7: When will construction on all of the modular classrooms be finished?Top of page..

    We are looking forward to celebrating the arrival of modular classrooms at schools across B.C. The first modular classrooms are already under construction at Shelter Industries in Aldergrove and could be delivered as early as the end of January 2011. All of the new modular classrooms will be installed at school sites by August 2011.

    Q8: When is the first modular going to be delivered? Top of page.

    Shelter Industries is working on a detailed delivery schedule based on their contracts with school districts, who are preparing their sites for the arrival of their modular classrooms. Deliveries will begin in early February 2011.

    Q9: How many modular classrooms are being built?Top of page.

    In total, B.C. school districts are receiving 266 new classrooms through additions to existing schools and through the installation of modular classrooms. Of those 266 new classrooms, 138 will be new modular classrooms.

    Q10: How many school districts are receiving modular classrooms? Top of page.

    The Ministry of Education has been working with school districts since late 2009 to determine their need for additional space to expand full-day kindergarten in 2011-12.

    Based on these consultations and specific criteria, we determined that 25 districts required modular classrooms to meet their space demands.

    These 25 school districts will install a total of 138 modular classrooms on about 100 school sites by August 2011.

    Many school districts have already begun site preparations for their modular classrooms, while others are looking at projected enrolment and other factors in order to finalize their school sites.

    Q11: How did the Ministry determine the features of the new modular classrooms?Top of page.

    Specifications for the new modular classrooms were developed under the guidance of a project team that included:

    • The Ministry of Education
    • Partnerships BC
    • Stantec, an internationally-recognized design build consortium
    • Spiegel, Skillen & Associates, a cost-estimating company
    • And representatives from the following school districts:
      • Vancouver (SD 39)
      • North Vancouver (SD 44)
      • Surrey (SD 36)
      • Coquitlam (SD 43)
      • Central Okanagan (SD 23)
      • Peace River North (SD 60)
      • Sooke (SD 62).

    This provided a good representation from districts across B.C. and the various geographic differences that exist in those regions.

    Q12: What is Shelter Industries?Top of page.

    Since 1985, Shelter Industries has designed, built and installed thousands of modular buildings throughout North America and various countries around the world.

    They provide everything from custom-designed, permanent structures that rival site-built structures in quality and aesthetics, to economical portable buildings that service immediate temporary needs.

    Q13: When will all of the new or renovated classroom spaces be completed? Top of page.

    It is expected that most classrooms will be in ready by September 2011, with the exception of the new school in Langley, which is scheduled for completion by September 2012, and a few additions that are scheduled for completion in December 2011. In these cases, it is up to the school districts to come up with a workable solution for full-day kindergarten space until their additions are finished.