5 Vancouver schools shortlisted for closure

The Vancouver School Board has narrowed the list of schools it will consider closing in 2011 in order to meet a budget shortfall, CBC News has learned.

The five schools on the short list are:

• Queen Alexandra Elementary.
• Carleton Elementary.
• Macdonald Elementary.
• McBride Annex.
• Champlain Heights Annex.

Two VSB trustees, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the list to CBC News.

All are elementary schools located in East Vancouver.

The short list was reached from a list of 11 schools the VSB made public in June.

The VSB must close the schools to help defray costs as it faces an $18 million budget shortfall, chair Patti Bacchus said in June.

The list will be presented to trustees at a special committee meeting Monday night by district superintendent Steve Cardwell.

On Tuesday, the recommendations will go to the entire board.

The VSB must hold at least one public meeting per school that's slated for closure and stakeholders will then have at least two weeks to comment, trustees said.

A final report and a final vote on the closures will be held in time for the September 2011 target date.