More April 2017 District PAC Updates and Events

DPAC Representative Report
Update on April VSB Budget
Provincial Election Events
Please note that this is FYI only and not intended to state positions for the Hudson PAC or its Executive. If you have questions please contact Hudson’s representative to DPAC, Alan Patola Moosmann, 778-998-8596, apatola@telus.net
Vancouver School Board 2017-2018 Budget Process
The VSB anticipates a shortfall of $2.1 million dollars and is proposing a variety of cuts to balance next year’s budget. Details are available at www.vsb.bc.ca/district-news/vsb-online-survey-now-open-feedback-budget, click on the “Summary of budget proposals” link at the bottom of the page.
The timeline for public review and input is very short. There is a survey which can be accessed until 5:00 pm on April 18 through the above link or at www.govsb.ca/budgetsurvey. DPAC has received a number of comments from parents concerned about both the budget proposals and the survey; you can download DPAC’s April 11 presentation to the VSB from http://vancouverdpac.org/generalannouncements/2017/4/10/dpac-statement-to-joint-plenary-iii-v-committee-april-10-2017
A revised budget will be released on Wednesday April 19, and the survey results will be released on Friday April 21.
The only remaining opportunity for the public to provide face-to-face input to the Board is Monday April 24 – 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the VSB committee of the whole meeting, Vancouver School Board main office, 1580 West Broadway. To register to make a presentation, email budget2017-2018@vsb.bc.ca.
The VSB board will meet for final approval of the budget on Wednesday April 26 at 7:00pm.
Public Education and the Provincial Election
The provincial election is Tuesday, May 9!
DPAC’s MLA Candidate Education Forum
Tuesday April 25, 6:30 to 8:30pm (please note corrected time!) Room 180, Vancouver School Board main office, 1580 West Broadway. This event will feature two local candidates from each of the Liberal, New Democratic and Green parties, and will be moderated by Vancouver Sun education reporter Tracy Sherlock. In order to plan appropriately for numbers, DPAC requests that people register beforehand at www.vancouverdpac_mlaeducationforum.eventbrite.com
BCCPAC All-Party Forum on Education Available Online
The April 4 Forum is now available to view online. Jonina Campbell of the Green Party (currently chair of the New Westminster School Board), Rob Fleming of the NDP (the opposition Education critic) and Andrew Wilkinson of the Liberal Party (Minister of Advanced Education) were the speakers, taking questions collected by BCCPAC from DPACs around the province. Please follow this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ion8bVprk8&utm_source=ZOHO+Member+Contacts+2016%2F17&utm_campaign=1debd10202-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_04_10&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d837bec74a-1debd10202-254858745
When it becomes available we will also post the link to the Your Education Matters Forum, BC Public Education: In Dialogue with Critics of Provincial Education Policy, held on April 11. This is a lively discussion between George Abbot, former BC education minister and a panel of school, student and parent representatives.
If you can, please make an effort to attend all candidates meetings in your riding over the coming weeks and ask all candidates about their education platforms!