A building housing the 麻豆传媒映画School Boards Total Education program at 425 East 29th Ave. was damaged by fire Friday night.
The blaze, likely sparked by fireworks, has forced the program to relocate to space at Charles Tupper Secondary. The new site re-opens to students Wednesday.
Total Education is a district-wide secondary alternative program whose name, according to the district, reflects its philosophy that broader support for social development and lifestyle management enhances academic success. Students, mostly in Grade 11 and 12, are between 16 and 19 typically have experienced academic, social or emotional challenges.
No one was in the building at the time of the fire, which started in an undercover courtyard. 麻豆传媒映画Fire and Rescue Services reported on Friday that one classroom suffered substantial damage and several others incurred significant smoke damage.
The fire investigator has determined that the fire started in an outdoor chain link fence storage area in the rear of the school that housed a number of plastic pre-school type toys. There was also a propane tank in this storage area, explained fire department spokesperson Gabe Roder in a press release. Due to the heat of the fire, the propane tank vented, which further fuelled the fire. The investigator feels that the probable cause of the fire is due to the misuse of a firework or an errant firework that came in contact with the plastic toys.
Bill Ostrom, the VSBs manager of operations, called the damage extensive and noted the program will be located in the East building at Tupper until repairs are completed.
We dont have good estimates yet, but were sure [damage is] in the hundreds of thousands, he said.
The district released posted a notice on its website pointing out Halloween can be an expensive for the VSB and that security would be patrolling potential trouble spots Monday night.
The notice also indicated the VSB will provide evidence and information to aid police investigations and convictions related to vandalism to school property and wherever possible it will seek restitution for the costs.
We have been able to convict people who have damaged our schools. We do it on a regular basis as a matter of fact, Ostrom told the Courier. And its not just on Halloween. Halloween is pretty busyits everything packed into one nightbut we have vandalism that occurs throughout the year and there are at least a few occasions a year where people are caught.
On Halloween night in 2010, four schools were damaged to the tune of roughly $200,000 after vandals deliberately shot marine or parachute flares through windows. Boaters in distress use the flares.
Walter Moberly, Pierre Elliott Trudeau and John Henderson elementary schools, as well as John Henderson annex, which are located near each other, were targeted. The worst damage was done to John Henderson annex. A sprinkler kicked in, but there was smoke and water damage. Henderson elementary suffered four large burn marks on its maple gym floors. Curtains and walls were also burned.
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