Towards a New Oak Bay High School

NEWS RELEASE

 VICTORIA – The Ministry of Education and the Greater Victoria school district (SD 61) have signed a project agreement to replace Oak Bay High school to better serve students and families.

The new school will be designed to facilitate personalized learning for students while providing day care and other community programs at a new on-site Neighbourhood Learning Centre.

To proceed with the school replacement, ministry and district staff worked closely with local partners to determine the needs of the school and community. With this agreement in hand, the district can now continue with construction plans. It is expected that SD 61 will request open bids this summer, award the project and start construction by spring 2013.

The new Oak Bay High will accommodate up to 1,300 students, including 100 international students. It will be designed to meet the latest seismic construction and LEED Gold or equivalent environmental standards.

The school will serve the Oak Bay community, providing a new theatre in partnership with the District of Oak Bay. It will also include a new Neighbourhood Learning Centre to host seniors’ programs and other leisure activities under the management of Oak Bay Parks and Recreation.

Quotes:

Minister of Education George Abbott —

“The new Oak Bay High school and Neighbourhood Learning Centre will provide a modern, integrated learning environment that will serve students as well as the entire Oak Bay community.”

“Parents and community members play a key role in the development of our students, and these facilities will help strengthen the bond between children, local families and the community.”

MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head Ida Chong —

“The new learning and neighbourhood facilities will bring Oak Bay generations and families closer together. They are an excellent example of how we can maximize the resources available when our municipality, parks and recreation, as well as the school district, collaborate.”

Greater Victoria board of education chair Peg Orcherton —

“The Greater Victoria school district is excited to move forward on our plans for the new Oak Bay High. It will be an asset to our students and the public as well, where the whole community can come together under one roof. The partnerships with the District of Oak Bay and Oak Bay Parks and Recreation will bring exciting future opportunities.”

Quick Facts:

• Oak Bay High currently has an enrolment of 1,134 students in grades 9-12.
• The existing Oak Bay High is an amalgamation of the original Oak Bay Secondary school (built in 1929) and the Oak Bay Junior High (built in 1953).
• Since 2001, the Province has invested more than $95 million on 21 schools for seismic upgrades or replacements in the Greater Victoria school district.
• The government has spent more than $1.8 billion to complete 83 new and replacement schools, 149 additions, 26 renovations and 22 site acquisitions.

Learn More:

• Neighbourhood Learning Centres: http://www.neighbourhoodlearningcentres.gov.bc.ca/
• SD 61 (Greater Victoria school district): http://www.sd61.bc.ca/
• BC’s Education Plan: http://www.bcedplan.ca/

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
2011EDUC0090-001378
Oct. 28, 2011
Ministry of Education
 
 
Oak Bay to get new high school
 
VICTORIA – Oak Bay High will be replaced by a state-of-the-art new school with a
Neighbourhood Learning Centre that will play host to an array of programs and services to
serve local family and community needs.
 
The estimated $50.1-million replacement school will be designed to LEED Gold or equivalent
standards and will meet the latest seismic construction standards. It will have the capacity to
accommodate 1,300 students, including district-funded space for 100 international students.
 
Thanks to a $1-million contribution from the District of Oak Bay, the existing 1957 gymnasium
will be retained and converted into a performing arts theatre and drama support space for
school and community use. The Greater Victoria school district will continue its consultation
with community partners, including Oak Bay Parks and Recreation, to finalize which features
will be offered as part of the Neighbourhood Learning Centre. 
 
 
Quotes:
 
Minister of Education George Abbott –
 
“Schools are central assets to the neighbourhoods they serve and we want to increase their
usefulness and importance so both students and residents can benefit from available services
and programs. I congratulate the Greater Victoria board of education for combining the
interests of students with those of the surrounding community.” 
 
MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head Ida Chong –
 
“This new school will be a welcome addition to the fabric of this community. In particular, I
expect the school’s Neighbourhood Learning Centre to be a tremendous asset for Oak Bay
students and families.”
 
Oak Bay Mayor Christopher Causton –
 
“We all look forward to enjoying a new and revitalized Oak Bay High school. Thanks to excellent
and ongoing co-operation between the municipality, the school district and the community, this
project will produce lasting benefits for generations of Oak Bay residents.”
 
Greater Victoria board of education chair Tom Ferris –
 
“We are grateful that the government of British Columbia will accommodate student learning in
a safe and modern structure. We are waiting to see what the design will look like and how it will
incorporate the thorough input received from the community.”
 
Oak Bay High school principal Dave Thomson –
 
“Students, parents and staff of Oak Bay High school are truly energized with the news that this
project is moving forward. We are thankful for the effort from each of our stakeholder groups,
all of whom gave their time to collaborate on the design of the new Oak Bay High School. As
principal of Oak Bay High School, I would like to thank everybody who helped make the new
building a reality.”
 
 
Quick Facts:
 
 The original Oak Bay Secondary school was constructed in 1929, Oak Bay Junior High
was built in 1953 and the two schools were amalgamated in 1970.
 Grades 9-12 enrolment at Oak Bay High was reported at 1,061 students for the 2010-11
school year. 
 Since 2001, government has invested more than $95 million to complete 21 school
capital and seismic projects in the Greater Victoria school district, including seismic
upgrades to Margaret Jenkins Elementary and the partial replacement of Doncaster
Elementary.
 During the same period, the Province has spent more than $1.8 billion to complete 83
new and replacement schools, 149 additions, 26 renovations and 22 site acquisitions,
and has committed more than $3.9 billion overall to school capital and maintenance
projects.
 
 
Learn More:
Find out about British Columbia’s Neighbourhood Learning Centres at:
www.neighbourhoodlearningcentres.gov.bc.ca
 
 
Contact:
 
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963
 
 
Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect

The Greater Victoria School District is pleased to announce that on Monday, May 16, 2011 the Board of  Education will be asked to approve a Capital Project Funding Agreement for the replacement of Oak Bay High School.  Upon Board approval, the Capital Project Funding Agreement will be submitted for final approval by the Minister of Education. 
 
Highlights of the proposal include:
 
 A Neighbourhood Learning Centre to consist of daycare, teen centre and community programming space
 A theatre to be re-established in the existing east gymnasium
 A new school designed to provide a twenty-first century learning experience for our students
 
The cost of the project is estimated to be $52,000,000 plus $12,000,000 from the Neighbourhood Learning Centre.

This building is being requested after several engineering studies have confirmed that it would be less expensive to replace the existing building with a new one than to update and seismically improve the existing structures.  Board Chair Ferris stated, “After extensive consultations with the public, staff, students and the Corporation of the District of Oak Bay, including design charrettes with the architects, the new facility will enhance the education of our students.”  Mayor Chris Causton commented that this new project is evidence of the level of cooperation between the municipality and the school district.

It is anticipated that the new school portion could be open for September, 2013, with the theatre and fields completed by 2015.

A Press Conference will be held at 10:00 am in the Cafeteria at Oak Bay High School (East), 2151 Cranmore Road, Victoria to discuss this upcoming project. 
 
For more information contact:
Tom Ferris, Board Chair:  (250) 889-0689
George Ambeault, Secretary-Treasurer:  (250) 475-4106

The Ministry of Education does not fund performing arts theatres but our visioning and design Charrete processes have clearly highlighted the community’s expectation that one will be part of the new school design.  To make it a reality, the School District has both provided and sought additional funding, and we are very pleased that the Municipal Council of Oak Bay has committed $1 Million in support of a 450 seat performing arts theatre which will be available for community as well as school usage.

There has been a great deal of positive, public support for the community’s proposal for a Neighbourhood Learning Centre that would bring additional funding from the Ministry of Education into our design process, and which would allow for afterschool care, daycare, a teen centre, adult programming, an enhanced theater and improved classroom space, all to the benefit of both the school community and the surrounding community.  For additional information and updates, please go to:  http://www.recreation.oakbaybc.org/neighbourhoodlearningcentre.html

Planning for our new school continues at a brisk pace.  We just completed a three-day, Design Charrete in which student, staff, parent, neighbor and community group representatives contributed to distilling input and developing consensus around site issues and general massing of the school.  Due primarily to constraints around placement of the fields and ensuring that the original two buildings can remain open and functional during construction, it appears that the new school building will sit at the north side of the property with an entry plaza off of Cadboro Bay road and a direct connection to the old East gym, which will become our new theatre.  The school will be set well back from the trees along Cranmore Road and every effort will be made to articulate and setback walls and levels along the road, to respect the wishes of neighbours and to make a pleasing appearance.  The new school should appear very open and bright, and will be at least LEED gold environmental standard.  We have poster diagrams on the walls in the Cafeteria showing initial design ideas.  Please feel free to come in to have a look and to let us know what you think.

Please join us for a public sharing of initial designs for the new Oak Bay High School on Saturday, October 16, 2010 from 3:00-5:00pm in the East Building cafeteria.  Architects, school staff, district planners, Oak Bay Municipal Council members, School Board trustees and other community groups and individuals will be with us as we view and discuss computer and paper renderings of initial designs for our proposed new school and Neighbourhood Learning Centre.

The Oak Bay High School Design Committee invites residents to provide comments on a proposal to include a Neighbourhood Learning Centre in the new Oak Bay High School.

The Ministry of Education has agreed, in principle, to the replacement of Oak Bay High School. Through its Neighbourhood Learning Centre Initiative, the Province provides additional funds to include community focused facilities in new schools. This funding provides the School District and the community of Oak Bay with the opportunity to work together to develop shared education and community services under one roof, and make them available through Joint Use Agreements.

WE WELCOME YOUR INPUT

The  public is welcome to attend the following open houses to learn more about the proposals and to discuss the Neighbourhood Learning Centre with representatives of the Design Committee. Coffee, juice and muffins will be provided.

OPEN HOUSES

Saturday, October 2, 2010 10am – Noon Windsor Park Pavilion

Sunday, October 3, 2010 1 – 3pm Monterey Recreation Centre

Tuesday, October 5, 2010 7 – 9pm Oak Bay Recreation Centre

More information on Neighbourhood Learning Centres can be found at:

www.neighbourhoodlearningcentres.gov.bc.ca

The Design Committee welcomes your input on the proposal set out below.

Services Proposed For The Oak Bay Neighbourhood Learning Centre

AFTER SCHOOL CARE

• 120 available spaces housed in 5 Activity Rooms (Rooms available outside of the After School Program hours for community access and recreational programming  ie. Yoga, dance, school/community use and group meeting space)

• Provincial accreditation and licensing

DAYCARE

• 25 available Daycare spaces

• Provincial accreditation and licensing

TEEN CENTRE

• Staffed teen lounge with areas for passive and active pursuits

• Pool table / ping-pong table / TV-video game lounge / activity tables / computer access quiet lounge

Oak Bay High School Facilities Proposed For Expansion

To Accommodate Community Access And Programming

EXPANDED FITNESS ROOM – Age appropriate

• Simulator and advanced training  equipment

• Community club and organization access to fitness

• Triathalon Club training

EXPANDED FOODS ROOM – All Ages

• Community programming such as cooking for kids to international cuisine for adults

EXPANDED WOODWORKING SHOP – All Ages

• Community access to shop tools, workbenches and hand tools

EXPANDED ART STUDIO – All Ages

• Community access to the 3-D art studio

• Ceramics, pottery and sculpture

EXPANDED DRAMA DEPARTMENT – All Ages

• 450 seat theatre with community access

• Community Theatre Group storage

EXPANDED DANCE STUDIO – All Ages

• Community access to the fully equipped Dance Studio with sprung wood floor

NOTE:  Some areas of the school need to be expanded to accommodate community access.  However, community access will not be limited to expanded areas.

ACCESSIBILITY

• All areas will be handicap accessible.

SUSTAINABILITY

• The Neighbourhood Learning Centre, as well as the new High School, will target LEED Gold Certification, as a program requirement.

OPERATING COSTS

• With additional programming income, the NLC project is intended to be operationally cost neutral to the Municipality and the School District.

ANTICIPATED PROJECT TIMELINE

• Community Open Houses for the Neighbourhood Learning Centre (NLC) proposal – October 2nd, 3rd, and 5th.

• Oak Bay High School and NLC Design Charette – October 14th, 15th and 16th.

• Design refinements, Project Definition Report and Project Agreement for High School and Neighbourhood Learning Centre submitted to the Ministry of Education for approval – December 15th, 2010

• Ministry of Education approval anticipated by late February, 2011

• Construction to start – Fall of 2011

• School and Neighbourhood Learning Centre opening – September, 2013

DESIGN COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

• Councillor Hazel Braithwaite – Oak Bay

• Councillor Nils Jensen – Oak Bay

• Mr. Tom Ferris – Chair, Greater Victoria School District

• Mr. Michael McEvoy – Board Member, Greater Victoria School District

• Lorna Curtis – Director Parks and Recreation – Oak Bay

• Mr.  Dave Thomson – Principal, Oak Bay High School

• Mr. Jim Soles – Supervisor of Building Projects, Greater Victoria School District

• Mr. Rod Windjack – CEI Architecture, Project Architect

If you are unable to attend an Open House session,please email your comments to lcurtis@oakbay.ca

Comments can also be mailed to or dropped off at the Oak Bay Recreation Centre.

Please address envelopes to:

Neighbourhood Learning Centre

c/o Lorna Curtis

Oak Bay Recreation Centre

1975 Bee Street, Victoria BC V8R 5E6

Broad-based Consultation Complete

We have now completed the Broad-based Consultation Phase of planning for our new school.  We wish to sincerely thank all of the staff, students, parents, neighbours, other community members, interested groups and potential partners for your input and for the rich conversations that we have had over the previous six months.  They have challenged us and informed us, and represent a critically important part of ensuring that our new school will ultimately be one that we can all be proud of.  This does not end consultation.  As we move into the Design Phase, we continue to discuss potential partnering possibilities and will be looking for input on more focussed questions over the coming months.

The next goal is to complete a Project Definition Report which can be submitted to the Ministry of Education.  This should take 4 to 6 months.  Once the Ministry approves the report, they will release funding and we can begin to plan further detail and start to organize for construction.  We hope to have a ‘shovel in the ground’ late summer/early fall 2011.  All during this process, we continue to commit to keeping everyone appropriately informed.

This letter was sent to the School Board and school administration, as well as the Municipality of Oak Bay by a group of Armstrong Avenue neighbours.  They have offered both suggestions and support in the spirit of consultation for this exciting new project.

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