"The B.C. Education Ministry has abruptly changed its message on school closures and is now urging school boards to think long and hard before shutting more schools."
From the Vancouver Sun today: click to read full article
Thanks to Randi Gurholt-Seary for the link.
BRAVO GARIBALDI!From a letter to the Garibaldi community:
Against all odds Garibaldi, a small kindergarten to Grade 3 Eastside school, slated for closure in September, recently won a signal victory by convincing the NPA- dominated Vancouver school board to keep their school open.
Over a six month period this small school- community put together an innovative 60 page plus brief that COPE trustee Al Blakey described as “ a remarkable and visionary educational document “.
The VSB, while offering a modified proposal that differed from the original Garibaldi submission, recognized the value of the school’s detailed submission with several NPA trustees commending the community for its persistent efforts.
And what an effort.
This involved a remarkable community mobilization project encompassing sustained and varied series of community events, activities, and happenings including all of the following : countless small and large group meetings; door-to-door canvassing for potential new students ; community–wide surveys; a I,000 plus save-our -school petition; a community fair attended by 500; researching and writing an innovative and forward- looking brief with strong emphasis on early childhood education and child care; bussing parents and their children to two separate VSB public meetings;’ hiring’ an amazing local marching band to announce with a flourish their arrival at the final decision-making board meeting and even swamping VSB trustees with over a 100 small teddy bears at a previous board meeting.
All of this -and indeed much more background planning and activities -went into this truly remarkable and sustained community victory which COPE trustees, Allan Wong hailed as “astounding”.
Both COPE trustees flatly stated that while they preferred the original Garibaldi plan, they would vote for the NPA motion before the board, which they amended to include specific mention of an early childhood component.
Bravo Garibaldi parents, community organizations and community activists for a superb achievement!
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Noel Herron
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Former elementary school principal and former Liaison Trustee to Garibaldi school ; he is seeking, through the office of the Freedom of Information commissioner, a full copy of the original VSB district-wide facilities review document tabled, in camera ,at a board meeting on June 27,2007. The FOI office has promised a decision on or before September 5, 2008.
Hi folks :Thanks, Noel, for the encouraging words throughout the process. It helped keep us on track.
Congratulations on a great victory last night. All of your hard work ,energy,creativity and innovation paid off in spades,although the NPA board should have accepted plan B --your plan -in full as it is the most relevant and cutting edge in terms of the future for public education in primary classes in this city.
Garibaldi parents were collectively light years ahead of this board and it is truly ironic that they did not accept plan B while on the same evening they were voting to accept a VSB FRAMEWORK for early education.
Al Blakey and I ,as the oldest,--I would prefer most experienced--trustees on the former board agree that we have never seen such positive activism and dynamic enthusiasm--including that wonderful band--- from a small school-community.
All of you deserve official recognition from some other public body or external organization for the outstanding work in community development and parental involvement.
.There is an ongoing story here- a truly inspiring story--behind the meetings(small and large).the telephone calls,the emails.the website, the surveys,the lobbying, the research, busses and band, including the non-stop drive that culminated in last night's victory. As the former Liason Trustee for your school I was delighted to observe your splendid work from the side lines and watch you reach your well -deserved goal.
.BRAVO GARIBALDI !!
Noel Herron
Approve the establishment of a joint community, school and district committee toTrustee Blakey's amendment was accepted.
support and promote the educational programs, particularly the need for and early learning component, at Garibaldi Annex and to
monitor growth in enrolment over the next three years.
The following is from Garibaldi email distribution from Diane Wilmann of Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House, reminding us to attend the VSB vote at the public meeting Monday, May 5, on whether to close Garibali Annex.
Hi Everyone,
Just a reminder about getting everyone out on Monday. The Carnival band will be there to cheer us on and buses are now finally confirmed for those needing transport to VSB. 2 Buses will be at Garibaldi at 6pm for loading and will leave promptly to go to VSB at 6:15. Two buses will return at 8:15 – if the meeting is not finished the drivers are willing to wait if we ask. There will be entertainment for children outside the building with the Carnival band and there will be less waiting around than last time. The kids will also get their bears back!
See you all Monday,
Diane
MEETING LOCATION会议地点: Vancouver School Board温哥华教育局,
1580 West Broadway St., Vancouver（位于温哥华1580 West Broadway 街）
MEETING TIME会议时间: 7pm – 9pm (approx.) 晚上7－9点
My name is Karen Georgi and this (members.shaw.ca/stopbcschoolclosures/) is a link to my website and petition. Please have a look and help me to circulate this petition Province wide. There is also a Facebook group "stopbcschoolclosures" to help circulate the petition.I am a parent with two children in public school and started to become interested in the issue of Functional Capacity during our school district's (SD42) school closure process back in September 2007. At this time there were information sessions which welcomed public feedback. Over and over again members of the public asked why classrooms that were utilized by daycares, sensory rooms and other community uses didn't "count" when calculating functional capacity. There are programs the government has implemented such as strong start and this too cannot be factored in. A school can have every classroom utilized and it's official functional capacity could be 75 or 80%. I feel that changing the determination for what constitutes the functional capacity of our schools will help to keep schools open. Please feel free to call me or email if you have any questions.Karen Georgi19559 115 AvenuePitt Meadows604-465-0612
