Think Schools

The Vancouver School Board is currently seismically upgrading its buildings, so why are schools being systematically downsized?

Key services like childcare are being pushed out, upgraded schools won't have enough space to accommodate teaching the creative arts, and many of our children, teachers and staff will be forced to continue attending schools that are often the most at-risk buildings in our city.

• Ministry of Education area standards;
• dedicated funding formulas and sources;
• childcare and early education initiatives;
• sustainable architecture;
• heritage preservation; and
• maintaining space for arts programming and community use.

The lack of a coherent public process without clear goals or timelines for achieving safe schools has created a fend-for-yourself culture among school communities. Parents, parent advisory councils, teachers, staff and communities are spending thousands of hours trying to convince the school board their schools needs are critical. The current seismic upgrade program has created a patchwork of solutions and become bogged down by its own design.

Children, teachers and staff and our communities deserve safe, vibrant learning environments. The issues surrounding upgrades are complex and require strong leadership advocating for achievable timelines, an accountable, transparent process that engages the public and dedicated funding across the whole city.