D.P. Todd's gym

By Tommy Osborne

School Board

D.P. Todd Secondary replacement/renovations top list of SD57 capital project requests

Jun 26, 2024 | 4:11 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – School District 57’s (SD57) final school board meeting of the year took place on June 25, and one of the key points to come out of the meeting was the approval of the review of the five year major capital plan. This plan will be submitted to the Ministry of Education and Childcare, and one of the top items that SD57 hopes will be approved is funding for D.P. Todd Secondary School.

“We have a number of schools that are under space concerns. This is the top priority for our high schools,” said SD57 School Board Chair Craig Brennan.

Capacity challenges at D.P Todd have been a concern for many years, and it’s not the first time SD57 requested funding through the major capital plan. The plan offers two options to address the concerns: a replacement project to build an entire new school, or an addition/renovation project.

“Although it’s certainly still a functional building, we think that we could be doing better for students. It is kind of stretching at the seams because that area continues to have more growth in terms of population,” said SD57 Superintendent Jameel Aziz.

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The school currently has 759 students, with more likely on the way as the community continues to grow. However, it’s not just capacity that’s a concern, the building is also showing signs of age and both Aziz and Brennan would like to see D.P. Todd undergo modernization to create a more positive, stronger, learning environment.

“There probably was a time when people thought having a window was a bit of a distraction, but I would say that science and other studies suggest today that it’s really important to have that kind of connection for both biorhythm processes as well as feelings of positive mental health and engagement,” Aziz said.

“Creating exciting learning spaces is the very foundation of a good school. The building is dated and would would benefit from either a very serious upgrade or a brand new building, because that kind of quality learning space is something that every student deserves. And that’s why the board is going to push for this,” Brennan said.

Also in the five year major capital plan are three elementary schools: Malaspina, Springwood, and Edgewood, and each of these schools is hoping that funding will be approved for four new classrooms, a multipurpose classroom space, and a daycare space. These schools are also facing capacity concerns, but SD57 adds the addition of a daycare space could play a role in further helping communities, especially since childcare has become an increasingly growing need.

“Where are those students going to go? Do we have the capacity for them? That’s what these three asks are about, is to create a space. And these are beautiful modular spaces they’re talking about, as well as the daycare. So that would be a solution to a problem,” Brennan said, when discussing how the communities around the three elementary schools are growing.

“There is a societal expectation now that our schools can be utilized much more than the 8:30 to 2:30 or 3:00 time frame. These are public buildings, they have great facilities. They often are really well designed, and if we can use them for extended hours to service our community, then all the better,” Aziz added.

Beyond the major capital plan, another topic of note was the approval of a new course for highschoolers: Basketball 12. As the name implies, the course is an extension of Basketball 10 and 11, but unlike the previous courses, Basketball 12 also has an emphasis on coaching and theory.

“The 12 program focuses a little bit more on leadership, on organization, and having the senior students give back to both the junior students in their own school, as well as the elementary schools in the Hart Highlands area,” Aziz said.

Beyond the obvious benefit of providing more basketball for students who enjoy the sport, Aziz adds this course is a fantastic way to develop valuable life skills. As a former coach and player himself, Aziz strongly believes in the many benefits sports can bring to a student both on and off the court.

“All of my career success and movement has been kind of based on the foundation of sport. It’s learning how to work positively with other people, it’s learning how to identify the skills, talents and strengths that people bring to the table, and then really working to utilize those best. It’s also learning how to overcome adversity, how to communicate with people, how to form effective teams, how to bring the best out of each individual,” he said.

Also approved at the meeting was revisions to the district code of student conduct further restricting cellphone and device use in the classroom, and the 2025-26 school year calendar.

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