One of four sites in Silver Valley will no longer be dedicated as a potential school site.

The site, at 23103 136th Ave., was identified as a place where a school would be built to serve the growing population of Silver Valley.

However, since the Silver Valley Land Use Plan was passed in 2001, education has changed, said board chair Mike Murray, and since the density in the area isn't as great as expected, it's projected that there will be only 1,250 elementary-aged children in Silver Valley.

Currently, there are almost 500 students, of which 70 per cent go to Yennadon Elementary.

That would leave about 750 children at the elementary-school age in the Silver Valley area, Murray pointed out.

When asked about this specific site, the school board was "prepared to let this go," Murray said.

The school district is doing a facilities review this year to determine future needs, Murray said, for example, whether a high-school site is necessary in Silver Valley.

"We won't know that until we complete the review," he said.

The school district has to be "cautious" when building new schools, Murray said, because each school needs administration and maintenance.

"Obviously it costs more to maintain many small schools than fewer large schools," Murray said.

Removing the site also sends the message to people moving into the area not to expect a school there, Murray said.

In addition, Murray pointed out that education is changing, and in the future, there might be less need for traditional school facilities.

An example of this that Murray gave was the school district's "cyber school" program whereby students are in class only two days a week and learn from home remotely three days a week.

Maple Ridge council removed the deferral of the item, thereby allowing it to go back to staff, and they expect first and second hearing to come back to them in February. If approved, the matter will go to a public hearing.

mrantanen@mrtimes.com