DPAC Representative Report – Public Education Advocacy Events in April
Here are details of some events coming up in the next few weeks. Please note that this is FYI only and not intended to state positions for the Hudson PAC or its Executive.
Vancouver School Board 2017-2018 budget process:
The proposed budget was put up on the VSB website late last week. Cuts are proposed to deal with an anticipated deficit of $2.1 million dollars. 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 govsb.ca/budgetsurvey. If you are interested in completing the survey, please note that you can only open it once from any one email address — if you open it to take a look at the questions, intending to think about them and fill them out later, and then exit the survey, the site will not let you back in!
The only opportunities for the public to provide input face-to-face presentations to the Board are:
Tuesday April 11 – 5:00 to 7:00 pm. 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.
Monday April 24 – 7:00 to 9:00 pm. VSB committee of the whole meeting, Vancouver School Board main office, 1580 West Broadway. The survey results will be presented at this meeting, along with any revisions to the proposed budget. Public input commenting on the revision can be made at this meeting.
Also: Thursday April 13 – 7:00 to 9:00 pm. DPAC executive meeting, Vancouver School Board main office, 1580 West Broadway. VSB staff will make a presentation about the proposed budget. DPAC executive meetings are open to all parents/guardians of children in Vancouver public schools to attend and ask questions.
The VSB board will meet for final approval of the budget on Wednesday April 26 at 7:00 p.m.
Public education and the provincial election
The provincial election is coming up Tuesday May 09.
Two related events:
Tuesday April 11, 7:00 – 9:00 pm – BC Public Education: In Dialogue with Critics of Provincial Education Policy – at SFU Woodwards (Goldcorp Centre for the Arts, 149 West Hastings Street). George Abbot, former BC education minister, with a panel of school, student and parent representatives, will discuss BC’s education policy today and what is needed for the future success of students. The conversation will be moderated by Katie Hyslop, education and youth reporter for “The Tyee”. Please see the attached flyer (“YEM“) for more details.
Tuesday April 25, 7:00 – 9:00 pm, DPAC’s MLA candidate education forum, 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. Please see the attached flyer (“MLA forum“) for registration and more details.
For one analysis of public education funding issues, please see the attached report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the BCTF – Education underfunding, how does it add up? Please also visit http://www.panvancouver.ca/declaration.html for a statement by PAN and eight other B.C. parent advocacy groups made in February to the Premier, Minister of Finance and Minister of Education which is worth a look for a summary of issues facing public education and a series of requested actions.
If you have questions about any of the above, please contact Hudson’s representative to DPAC, Alan Patola Moosmann, 778-998-8596, apatola@telus.net
Skip to content
We are the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) of a public elementary school located in the heart of Vancouver, BC.
