Category: Advocacy

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

BC Hydro Proposal Feedback Deadline February 28
Public input – Parent letter – Petition
This is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to state positions for the Hudson PAC
or its Executive.
BC Hydro is proposing to build new electrical substations downtown in Emery Barnes Park
and Nelson Park , the site of Lord Roberts School Annex , in exchange for funding a new
elementary school in Coal Harbour and a larger replacement school at the current Annex site.
Hudson’s French Immersion catchment area includes the West End, Coal Harbour and
Yaletown; many Hudson families live in the area most immediately affected by this proposal.
BC Hydro has asked the VSB to respond to this proposal by the end of March. Information
about this proposal and an opportunity for public feedback to BC Hydro is available via this link
The public meetings hosted by BC Hydro have now taken place and the deadline for feedback
via the website is February 28 .
The Lord Roberts Annex PAC and West End Families in Action, an advisory committee to
Gordon Neighbourhood House in the West End, have put together a letter to the VSB outlining
the issues that they are requesting be addressed as the school district negotiates with BC
Hydro. These two groups are also circulating a petition in support of this letter . If you would
like to read the letter , please click here
If you are interested in reading or participating in the petition you can find it here
If you have any questions please contact Alan, Hudson’s representative to DPAC, at
apatola@telus.net.
If he doesn’t know the answer he can connect you with parents who have
been more involved in the public feedback about the BC Hydro proposal.

DPAC and Public Education Advocacy Update
(as reported to January 25 Hudson PAC meeting)
There are several items to let parents know about, from both DPAC and the Parent Advocacy Network (PAN).
First, two dates to save:
Monday February 06 – 7:00 p.m. at SFU Woodwards, 149 West Hastings Street – the Public Education Network Society (PENS) is hosting an in-depth discussion on public education with a panel of speakers from PENS, Families Against Cuts to Education BC, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and PAN. The panel and participants will discuss public education, its current state and its future and how we can renew and focus on what is needed. All are welcome! This may be good preparation for informed questions to candidates in the provincial election campaign which is almost upon us.
Thursday February 09 – DPAC citywide workshop, Building Resiliance and “Saving Mother” — 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium at Sir Charles Tupper Secondary, 419 East 24^th Avenue. The Vancouver DPAC executive invites all parents and guardians of children to this participatory workshop exploring First Nations’ experiences held by Crystal Smith and Jolene Andrew. It will feature a Fringe Festival play called “Saving Mother” which aims to bring about awareness and create change.
Second, an information resource:
PAN and FACE BC have together posted an explanation of the Supreme Court’s decision in the BCTF case, its consequences, and how it relates to the ongoing concerns with regard to the underfunding of public education in BC.
Take a read – http://www.panvancouver.ca/news/supreme-court-of-canadas-decision-in-the-bctf-case. As a result of the decision, the Vancouver School Board has received an additional $4.4 million in funding from the Province for additional teaching resources throughout the district this year. For details about how Hudson will be affected, please contact Principal Cannon.
Last, three opportunities for parent input:
1) The Ministry of Education is gathering input from parents across B.C. of children in Kindergarten to Grade 9 on report cards. There are two ways to participate: 1) by completing a parent feedback form either online or by printing a hard copy that can be completed and returned by mail, or 2) attending a community open house – the closest one to us will be Wednesday February 08 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Cambie Elementary, 4151 Jacombs Road in Richmond.
The parent feedback form will be open for response until February 28, at 4 p.m. and can be found at: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/yourkidsprogress/en/home/?WT_cg_n=HootSuite
All of the input that is submitted will be summarized into an Engagement Summary Report, which will be published this June.
2) DPAC is in discussion with the Ministry of Education re the possibility of a meeting between the DPAC executive and Education Minister Mike Bernier to discuss concerns of Vancouver parents. DPAC will be circulating a survey to parents in the coming weeks to help prioritize issues; I’ll get this out to Hudson parents once it is ready.
3) DPAC is also interested in hearing parent feedback re the BC Hydro proposal. Here are the details from the DPAC blog:
The Vancouver School Board has informed the Vancouver DPAC of a proposal made by BC Hydro to build two new underground substations and decommission older power substations in the downtown area. One of the proposed locations for a new substation is the current location of Lord Roberts Annex. In consideration for allowing the new substation to be built there, BC Hydro has proposed to fund the construction of a school at Coal Harbour with a suggested capacity of 300 students. The Coal Harbour school would be completed in 2020, at which time Lord Roberts Annex would be closed and the catchment boundaries would be redrawn to reflect the dual changes. Following the closure of Lord Roberts Annex, construction would begin on the new substation. Upon its completion, a new school would also be funded by BC Hydro and constructed above ground on the same site. This new school would be completed in 2025 with a suggested capacity of 500 students.
The benefits of this plan are the guaranteed financing of two new primary schools in the downtown area resulting in increased enrollment capacity.
Possible concerns include the disruption of having the catchment boundaries changed frequently, any health and safety risks to children and staff of having a school built over an underground substation, and whether accepting funding from another entity (whether public or private) is a priori acceptable.
To learn more about the project, including dates and times of four community open houses between now and the end of February, see BC Hydro’s website at https://www.bchydro.com/energy-in-bc/seed.html.
The VSB timeline for public consultation and decision making can be seen at:
https://www.vsb.bc.ca/district-news/bc-hydro-proposal-use-lord-roberts-annex-land-new-substation
Feedback via the BC Hydro site is open until February 28. DPAC is also interested in hearing parent opinions and concerns and articulating them to the VSB – if you have comments for DPAC (or feedback on any of the above items), please let me (Alan Patola Moosmann, Henry Hudson rep to DPAC, apatola@telus.net) know and I will pass them on!

The Vancouver District Parent Advisory Council is the formal body for parent input to the Vancouver School Board and a resource for individual school PACs, which are all members of the District PAC. DPAC hosts two or three “Citywide” meetings each school year, to which all parents of students in Vancouver public schools are invited. The upcoming fall Citywide offers two concurrent workshops, PAC/PAC treasurer 101 (basically, how PACs work) and grassroots organizing for advocacy for quality public education. The gathering will be at the VSB main office at Broadway and Fir from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. on Thursday October 13 — please see the attached link for registration details. Any interested parent is welcome to register and attend!
Link for more DPAC 2016 Information

It appears that sometime between Saturday after dusk and Sunday morning, someone or a group of people started numerous fires on the Henry Hudson School grounds: they lit up fires in the commercial garbage bins, burnt out the school ground garbages and set fire to the bulletin board.
A police report has been filed #VA1697504. An officer did visit the site already and has documented the damage. The police have also contacted VSB and will set arrangements for an officer to follow up on an investigation after coordinating with VSB/School Admin.
The incidences and severity of vandalism on our school grounds has escalated significantly in the past 8 months. I’d like to ask: Is it time to consider No Trespassing signs or School Ground closed after 10pm … violators will be prosecuted… or something like that? And way more lights on every corner of the grounds and all around the courtyards etc?

Public input requested by the Vancouver School Board
Please see the attached posters from the VSB laying out a series of drop in sessions and workshops around the city over the next six weeks or so, seeking public input on the long range facilities plan before it is finalized in June. This plan will set a fifteen year process in motion to complete the remaining seismic upgrades and “re-size” or close some schools so that at the end of that time the district will be operating at an average of 95% capacity, a number set by the provincial ministry of education as part of their criteria for ongoing seismic upgrade funding.
At this point, Hudson is on the priority list for the next round of seismic upgrades, and is currently, like most downtown and Kitsilano schools, at over 100% capacity. However, the school board trustees and planning staff encourage us to take part in the public consultation as they attempt to work out this reconfiguration of the school district without adversely impacting the quality of education. As the planning process gets closer to proposals to close specific schools, to “repurpose” underutilized buildings for lease to community groups, etc., parents are in the best position to make sure the board is informed about impacts on particular neighbourhoods, or local needs that could be addressed. As an average of 95% capacity will mean some schools will operate at over 100% capacity, information from parents about the issues experienced at over-filled schools such as ours would also be helpful even this early on in the process.
If you are interested in knowing more, please check out the VSB website at https://www.vsb.bc.ca/VSBengagement. You are welcome to attend any of the sessions described on the poster, regardless of what area of the city you are in. Some translation services will be provided at these events as well.
Every five years the VSB goes through a long-term visioning process to develop a strategic plan to set priorities; the current plan finishes in 2016 and the Board is also in the midst of public consultation to develop the next plan to run through 2021. As the attached flyer indicates, the Board’s abilities to provide all the other resources necessary for inclusive, accessible education for all students dovetails somewhat with the long range facilities plan. Please visit www.vsb.bc.ca/VSB2021 for full details.
Finally, details of the development process around the VSB’s budget for the coming school year, including public consultation, can be found at http://www.vsb.bc.ca/20162017-budget. Based on the level of education funding in the recent provincial budget, VSB staff are estimating a shortfall on the order of $24 million for the 2016-2017 academic year. As the trustees are legally required to submit a balanced budget to the province, there are some tough decisions ahead re cutting costs. A preliminary budget will be released to the public at 5:30 pm on Thursday March 31, with opportunities for public input at board committee meetings on April 12, 14 and 25; details are on the website.
Any parents interested in learning more about ongoing collaborative advocacy work by parents to support quality public education, or in getting involved in such work, are encouraged to connect with the Parent Advocacy Network (www.panvancouver.ca) or Families Against Cuts to Education (https://facebc.wordpress.com/).
Alan Patola Moosmann is Hudson’s representative to the District Parent Advisory Council, which is another channel for parent input to the VSB on all these issues, and would also be happy to hear any concerns you have and brainstorm about how best to pass them on. Please feel free to contact Alan at apatola@telus.net, or by phone at 604-736-8596.

Please read the following note from Marina Percy, Hudson PAC Chair. She has been lobbying tirelessly with a group of dedicated Hudson parents to look after Hudson’s future as we grow in population in the coming years and as Vancouver looks to follow through with much-needed seismic upgrades. Many thanks for all of their efforts and time!
January 20, 2016
I just got home from the very long Committee II meeting! Things went great…  All the relationship building and lobbying with Trustees has boded very well. Three Trustees made comments and recommendations that Hudson (along with two over-populated H1 schools also not previously on this this list), now be included in the following High Priority Seismic Upgrade Project List (the “A” List, shall we call it?!).  All Committee II Trustees but one voted in favour, all with positive supportive comments added. Motion carried.

Hudson PAC Chair

Greetings to all Hudson Parents,
Members of the PAC Executive will be appearing at the Committee II – Planning & Facilities meeting on January 20. (See www.vsb.bc.ca/calendars-events/committee-ii-planning-facilities-meeting-68 for information.)
We will be presenting Hudson teachers, staff, students and parents’ preference for the location of new classroom to be put into the school for the next school year. As we learned at the last PAC Meeting, the two choices are to:
a) Move the library into room 107 classroom (reducing the size of the library dramatically) and renovating the existing library space into two classrooms. This is a costly option that would increase anxiety and stress for the students while significantly decreasing the library facilities.
b) Convert the staff room to a classroom and create a new staff lounge in the boys’ change room area (a very large space currently used as a storage space) plus offer ‘satellite’ staff stations in the main building.
The PAC Executive, teachers, and staff feel that it is unnecessary at this juncture (pre-seismic upgrading) for the students to endure any negative change to their learning environment such as having their library facilities reduced and learning environment amenities dramatically impacted. Accordingly, PAC, teachers, staff will be presenting a united front proposal to move the staff room to the boys change room and create ‘satellite’ staff stations in the main building. We all agree that we do not want the library moved or changed in any way. There is no need to impact the students or their amenities with this small renovation.
What do you think? The PAC Executive invites parents to email your views to HudsonPAC@gmail.com. We may include your input and feedback in our presentation to VSB Board and Trustees on the 20th!
Our scheduled January 20th PAC Meeting will be postponed, and all agenda items tabled until the February 17 PAC meeting. See www.hudsonpac.ca/meetings
On behalf of Hudson PAC
Marina Percy
PAC Chair
(See www.hudsonpac.ca/contact/ for contact info)