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Britannia Secondary School will not be considered for closure, Vancouver school trustees indicated Thursday night.

After a five-hour meeting spent discussing all 12 schools on the possible closure list in detail, a majority of trustees said they wanted to remove Britannia — an east side school that is surrounded by a community centre — from consideration.

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Several trustees said they were surprised to see the school on the list, given the number of vulnerable students and aboriginal students that attend the school. The indication was a recommendation by the majority of trustees, but the full board will still need to vote on the list on Sept. 26. However, since all trustees were present, the committee recommendation will likely stick.

Most of Britannia is not at high risk in an earthquake, however one section of the school is at high risk.

The Vancouver School Board is considering closing up to 12 schools, but the list won’t be official until approved by the board on Sept. 26. Final decision will be made in December.

Enrolment has dropped in Vancouver schools for more than 10 years and school closures are being considered to save money, to speed up seismic upgrades and to boost capacity. The provincial government is targeting 95-per-cent enrolment at schools across Vancouver.

Education Reporter

tsherlock@vancouversun.com