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Summer maintenance

SD33 maintenance staff to upgrade Chilliwack schools over the summer

Jul 5, 2022 | 12:29 PM

CHILLIWACK — When Chilliwack School District’s 14,000-plus students were dismissed on June 23, the clock began ticking for summer maintenance staff tasked with tackling essential upgrades spread across 20 campuses.

It’s a challenge they live for and thrive on completing in time for the September 6 return to school.

“We are able to complete this work because of the dedicated staff here working hard to have schools and bussing ready for students in September,” said Al Van Tassel, director of facilities and transportation for Chilliwack School District. “It’s always a busy summer.”

The most pressing task ahead involves finishing Stito’:s, the new K-8 school along the Vedder River, and the additions to G.W. Graham Secondary and Vedder Elementary. The expansion of G.W. Graham brings 450 more seats to boost school capacity to 1,400 students, while a two-storey addition on the south side of Vedder Elementary will add 240 more seats and more parking spaces.

“Once construction is complete [at these three schools], we’ll be setting up Stito’:s and additions with furniture and equipment,” Van Tassel said. He added that 17 school campuses are due for anything from painting to fire alarm upgrades. These projects received funding from the Ministry of Education totaling approximately $2 million and focus on replacing systems approaching end of life or upgrades.

East Chilliwack Elementary will receive a building envelope upgrade, specifically roofing, doors, windows, and siding, and an exterior lighting upgrade.

Elementary schools slated for a fresh coat of exterior paint include F.G. Leary Integrated Arts and Technology, Strathcona, Tyson and Evans. Fire alarm upgrades will happen at Unsworth and A.D. Rundle, flooring gets replaced at Chilliwack Middle and Promontory Elementary, and Central Elementary downtown will have new exterior windows installed.

Telecom and network upgrades at four elementary schools are scheduled for Little Mountain, Unsworth, Robertson, and Yarrow, as well as Sardis Secondary. New roofs are going in at Little Mountain, East Chilliwack and F.G. Leary, while Sardis Elementary is due for an HVAC furnace upgrade. A fresh coat of paint should improve the look and feel of the interior of Rosedale Traditional and Kwiyeqel Secondary.

Van Tassel noted not all work will be done prior to September 6, but trades staff endeavour to minimize disruptions to instructional time.

“Some of the project work will extend into the school year, but we prioritize the intrusive work to be done over the summer,” Van Tassel said. “Summer break is a great time to accomplish this work without disrupting classes.”

Maintenance staff will also be working on many smaller maintenance projects over the summer, while custodial personnel plan to do thorough summer cleans of all schools. Transportation staff will address any necessary maintenance on the district fleet of over 50 buses.

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