Three schools – Anniedale Traditional, East Clayton and Sunnyside – closing?

Three Surrey schools are facing possible closure – two due to growing traffic and safety concerns in their respective areas and a third because of concentrated population growth.

For parents and students at Anniedale Traditional School, getting to school has become almost impossible in the past year because of ongoing road construction in the area. The school is located near 97 Avenue on 176 Street (Highway 15), on the interchange of Highway 15 and Highway 1. In addition, 96 Avenue is planned as the truck route linking to the new Golden Ears Bridge, and the area is slated to be zoned for industrial use.

A report to be presented to trustees Thursday evening says the "school will be isolated within the proposed business park, and will be 'land locked' by three major highway routes."

Laurae McNally, chair of the Surrey Board of Education, said the traditional program has been losing students because parents are frustrated with access.

"These parents have been asking us to do something," McNally said, noting it's being proposed the program be transferred to another school. McLeod Road Elementary has been identified as the most appropriate location, as that school's French immersion program is being moved to the new Woodward Hill Elementary in 2010.

The second school where closure is being discussed, Sunnyside Elementary, is also plagued with access and safety problems, says McNally. Located near 152 Street and King George Highway, the school, built in 1949, is also in need of upgrading.

A new school is being planned a couple of blocks east of the school, at 159 Street and 28 Avenue, so one option is to relocate children from Sunnyside to the new school, targeted for a 2012 opening at the earliest.

Discussions about closing East Clayton Elementary, at 18680 72 Ave., stem from a realignment of land use in the area, resulting in swelling population in the eastern portion of the Clayton area of Cloverdale. East Clayton currently houses kindergarten to Grade 3 students only, with Grades 4 to 7 attending nearby Clayton Elementary. As a result of the increased number of school-aged kids entering the area, the district has already begun construction on Hazelgrove Elementary, at 190 Street and 70 Avenue. Once open, it's expected that enrolment will decrease at East Clayton and Clayton and that all three schools will no longer be required.

Alternatives are to keep both older schools open, consolidate at either Clayton or East Clayton, or close both and have students attend Hazelgrove only. Closing East Clayton is the option recommended by district staff.

McNally emphasized that early discussions with the community is part of the process.

"It may be that the parents might have an idea we haven't thought of," she said.

Meetings will be scheduled with stakeholders at all schools involved. A consultation period of no less than 60 days is being recommended for each school location, with discussions including options and alternatives, implementation plans and implications of possible closures.

sreynolds@surreyleader.com