The Richmond School District is paying special attention to air quality in our schools. The district is taking concrete steps to ensure that our students and staff come to school and work each day in a clean, healthy and safe work environment. Over $5.6 million has been spent or committed to HVAC system improvements in Richmond schools in 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 - these projects have either been completed or are under construction. In addition, in Spring 2022 the Richmond Board of Education approved $12 Million in district funding to ensure all classrooms, libraries, multipurpose rooms, school offices and staff rooms have mechanical ventilation systems where currently absent. The Classroom Ventilation Program was completed September 2023.
The Richmond School District is fully compliant with all school ventilation requirements. The district works closely with, and takes direction from, public health officials to ensure that heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are designed, operated and maintained as per Provincial guidelines:
- Mechanical ventilation systems are in excellent working order through scheduled filter changes and equipment maintenance.
- Extended operating hours for ventilation systems – initiating ventilation systems well before school starts each day to flush the air in all rooms prior to occupancy.
- Increased fresh air exchange in accordance with Provincial guidelines.
Classrooms, offices, libraries, multipurpose or other rooms that do not currently have mechanical ventilation systems will keep windows open as much as possible to ensure outdoor air is naturally exchanged with inside air. Maintenance staff will monitor and adjust heating settings as necessary.
Below are links to overviews of the ventilation systems at each of our schools and district buildings (updated September 2024).
Elementary Schools
- Henry Anderson Elementary
- Archibald Blair Elementary
- Blundell Elementary
- William Bridge Elementary
- Samuel Brighouse Elementary
- Lord Byng Elementary
- William Cook Elementary
- Howard DeBeck Elementary
- John G. Diefenbaker Elementary
- Alfred B. Dixon Elementary
- John T. Errington Elementary
- W.D. Ferris Elementary
- Garden City Elementary
- General Currie Elementary
- James Gilmore Elementary
- R.M. Grauer Elementary
- Hamilton Elementary
- Tomekichi Homma Elementary
- Thomas Kidd Elementary
- Kingswood Elementary
- Walter Lee Elementary
- Maple Lane Elementary
- Donald E. McKay Elementary
- James McKinney Elementary
- Kathleen McNeely Elementary
- Mitchell Elementary
- Quilchena Elementary
- Sea Island Annex
- Spul'u'kwuks Elementary
- Manoah Steves Elementary
- Robert J. Tait Elementary
- R.C. Talmey Elementary
- James Thompson Elementary
- F.A. Tomsett Elementary
- Westwind Elementary
- James Whiteside Elementary
- Daniel Woodward Elementary
- Jessie Wowk Elementary
Secondary Schools
- Hugh Boyd Secondary
- J.N. Burnett Secondary
- H.J. Cambie Secondary
- A.R. MacNeill Secondary
- R.A. McMath Secondary
- Matthew McNair Secondary
- Hugh McRoberts Secondary
- R.C. Palmer Secondary
- Richmond Secondary
- Steveston-London Secondary
- Station Stretch
District Buildings
- School Board Office
- Facilities Services Centre
- Adult Education Centre
- Technology Services Centre (closed)
- Rideau Park Resource Centre
For more information on the Richmond School District response to the COVID-19 pandemic, visit https://sd38.bc.ca/covid-19-updates. In an attempt to provide clarity to questions that impact the whole school district, parents are welcome to submit system-level questions regarding COVID-19 to covid19@sd38.bc.ca. The district will collate all system-level questions and provide responses as soon as possible.