Trees on school district property

Trees located on school district property are the responsibility of the school district. The school district engages professional arbourists to maintain trees on school district property. An arbourist hired by neighbours or other outside parties cannot access school district property to perform any work on school district trees without the authorization of the school district. For liability reasons, the school district's arbourist must do the assessment and work.

If neighbours or community members have concerns about trees on school district property, the school district will work to address the concerns. All concerns that are identified to be a safety issue will be addressed. While the school district will attempt to attend to other concerns, concerns solely of a cosmetic nature may not be addressed.

Trees neighbouring school district property

If a tree next to a school district property poses safety concerns, the school district will contact the landowner so that the landowner can attend to the concern. For liability reasons, landowners must use their own arbourist to do the assessment and work. School district arbourists cannot do work on land not owned by the school district.

For further information, please contact: maintenanceadmin@sd44.ca

Shrubs and plants located on school district property are the responsibility of the school district. The school district employs a grounds crew that looks after vegetation on school district property. Vegetation that has overgrown and is blocking a walkway, cycling or driving route, or is blocking walk, cycle or drive sightlines, will be addressed. Other safety concerns will also be addressed. While the school district will attempt to attend to other concerns, concerns solely of a cosmetic nature may not be addressed.

For further information, please contact: maintenanceadmin@sd44.ca

Similar to the District of North Vancouver and the City of North Vancouver, who are provincially legislated to manage invasive species on public lands, the North Vancouver School District also has an obligation to manage invasive species. Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed cannot be completely eradicated by cutting and digging; treatment with herbicide is required. These invasive species have no boundaries and continue to spread on municipal lands, school lands and residential properties. The local municipalities have jurisdiction over school district sites and have developed invasive plant management strategies as well as bylaws and permitting for pesticides and herbicides.

More information is available here:

• http://www.dnv.org/programs-and-services/our-invasive-plant-management-strategy
  
• https://www.cnv.org/your-government/living-city/environmental-protection/invasive-species/invasive-plants
  

The municipalities have been active in managing invasive species and are using herbicides approved by the provincial and federal government. The school district is not currently using any herbicidal products on our sites. We will work with our municipal partners and the BC Invasive Species Council to ensure we are compliant with all municipal bylaw, municipal permits and Provincial and Federal legislation as it pertains to the management of invasive species and use of herbicides. If you have an invasive species concern, please contact the facilities department at the school district: maintenanceadmin@sd44.ca

Fences located on school district property are the responsibility of the school district. Neighbours or community members cannot affix anything to school district fences. If neighbours would like to build their own fence next to a school district fence, they must do so on their own property and in compliance with municipal bylaws. If neighbours or community members have concerns about fences on school district property, the school district will work to address the concerns. All concerns that are identified to be a safety issue will be addressed. While the school district will attempt to attend to other concerns, concerns solely of a cosmetic nature may not be addressed.

For further information, please contact: maintenanceadmin@sd44.ca

The school district is responsible for drainage on school district property. If neighbours or community members notice drainage that is causing flooding, property damage or safety concerns, please contact the facilities department at the school district: maintenanceadmin@sd44.ca

It is the school district's responsibility to address rodent and pest concerns on school district property. The school district takes rodent and pest control seriously and works to eliminate issues as soon as they arise. Although rodents may be observed on school sites from time to time, they are transient and could be propagating from adjacent lands, such as greenspace where food sources and nesting opportunities exist. In these cases, the school district is limited to pest control measures that can be implemented on our property. Neighbours are encouraged to reduce potential food sources and contact the municipality when rodents are observed originating from municipal lands. 

For further information, please contact: maintenanceadmin@sd44.ca

Road markings and traffic signs located on school district property are the responsibility of the school district. Concerns related to damaged signs and faded road lines will be addressed. Suggestions for additional signage and lines will be considered based on safety, traffic flow and municipal regulations.

Unapproved signage placed on school property or attached to site appurtenances will be removed and discarded.

For further information, please contact: maintenanceadmin@sd44.ca

During a snow event, the priority of the school district is to ensure safe passage of students, parents and teachers into the school. The school district prioritizes perimeter sidewalks, the main pathway into the school building, stairways and ramps leading to portables, parking lots and driveways. Parking lots and driveways will be salted, but cannot be plowed until accumulations are over 3 cm. In addition, fields are not plowed.

Once the priority areas are clear and safe, secondary areas around the school can be addressed. These include additional pathways into the school, sidewalks adjacent to the school, and other hard surfaces. Salting is done on all priority and secondary surfaces.

For further information, please contact: maintenanceadmin@sd44.ca

The school district cleans up graffiti and repairs vandalized items as soon as possible. If you notice graffiti or vandalism please contact NVSD’s maintenance department: maintenanceadmin@sd44.ca