Very shortsighted. I'm not sure where they are getting their data, but the simple on the ground reality is very different.
Yes, 20 years ago there was a decline. Now, for example, on my son's block in Cedar Cottage, there are 14 children going to the new Charles Dickens elementary, an increase of 8 in the last 6 years due to 3 lane houses being built. Do the math and extrapolate this very typical street. There are also 5 new rental developments being built along Kingsway in the same catchment area which will add perhaps another 100 or more students.
My advise as usual, is for those making the decisions to start by getting out of the office and see what is happening on the ground, talk to people, then review the numbers.
I agree with your boots on the ground approach. I can't cover the entire city, but now have an increasing number of ordinary citizens reporting to me new projects, amendments to existing ones, etc. Always looking for more volunteers!
Thanks for your tireless work, Brian. It is unfortunate that only someone who has spent a lifetime garnering the requisite experience and qualifications, and who now has the time to devote to a cause as worthy as this, can be so readily dismissed by this cabal of bought-and-paid-for peons in VanCity government. As a wiser person than I once said “Municipal government is the cheapest to buy.”
Hi Brian, thanks for this article. I just got word that my old highschool, which is a small mini school of 120 students, will be taken over by the overflow students from the neighbouring elementary school. Surprising, because the elementary school has its own annex space it could expand into, but it has been rented out by the VSB. This all came as a big surprise to the PAC at my school, because there was zero consultation, they were cut out from the budget meetings (also without notice). I knew the VSB has had budget issues for a long time, and special programs like my school are usually the first to go, but reading this, it looks like a much bigger issue and the lack of transparency is really concerning. I would love to help this issue get some exposure on my channel. (www.youtube.com/damileearch) Please feel free to reach out at hello@damilee.com. Thanks!
All good, Dami, and what a great YouTube channel! I will contact you probably within a few days. There are a number of VSB/school issues bubbling to the surface at the same time, which I am monitoring.
Thanks for staying on this Brian. I wonder how it would be possible to get more publicity for your research into this? Has anyone suggested The Early Edition with Stephen Quinn or another cbc program? It just seems so shortsighted to be closing schools and selling off the property when Vancouver needs (or will need) the green space, at minimum, apart from anything else.
Noel, thanks for reading. There is some additional interest percolating along—too early to say if it will go anywhere, but if it does I'll let you know. Cheers,
I suspect the agenda will be only revealed one school at a time, since the entire list of 40 properties is redacted. If it weren't, the PACs and neighbours of threatened schools would have time to develop their arguments for retention.
This is a reality. QEA, Ideal Mini, what's next?
Very shortsighted. I'm not sure where they are getting their data, but the simple on the ground reality is very different.
Yes, 20 years ago there was a decline. Now, for example, on my son's block in Cedar Cottage, there are 14 children going to the new Charles Dickens elementary, an increase of 8 in the last 6 years due to 3 lane houses being built. Do the math and extrapolate this very typical street. There are also 5 new rental developments being built along Kingsway in the same catchment area which will add perhaps another 100 or more students.
My advise as usual, is for those making the decisions to start by getting out of the office and see what is happening on the ground, talk to people, then review the numbers.
I agree with your boots on the ground approach. I can't cover the entire city, but now have an increasing number of ordinary citizens reporting to me new projects, amendments to existing ones, etc. Always looking for more volunteers!
Thanks, for reading.
Thanks for your tireless work, Brian. It is unfortunate that only someone who has spent a lifetime garnering the requisite experience and qualifications, and who now has the time to devote to a cause as worthy as this, can be so readily dismissed by this cabal of bought-and-paid-for peons in VanCity government. As a wiser person than I once said “Municipal government is the cheapest to buy.”
Thanks for your kind words. I shall keep plugging away!
Hi Brian, thanks for this article. I just got word that my old highschool, which is a small mini school of 120 students, will be taken over by the overflow students from the neighbouring elementary school. Surprising, because the elementary school has its own annex space it could expand into, but it has been rented out by the VSB. This all came as a big surprise to the PAC at my school, because there was zero consultation, they were cut out from the budget meetings (also without notice). I knew the VSB has had budget issues for a long time, and special programs like my school are usually the first to go, but reading this, it looks like a much bigger issue and the lack of transparency is really concerning. I would love to help this issue get some exposure on my channel. (www.youtube.com/damileearch) Please feel free to reach out at hello@damilee.com. Thanks!
All good, Dami, and what a great YouTube channel! I will contact you probably within a few days. There are a number of VSB/school issues bubbling to the surface at the same time, which I am monitoring.
Thanks for reading.
Thanks for staying on this Brian. I wonder how it would be possible to get more publicity for your research into this? Has anyone suggested The Early Edition with Stephen Quinn or another cbc program? It just seems so shortsighted to be closing schools and selling off the property when Vancouver needs (or will need) the green space, at minimum, apart from anything else.
Noel, thanks for reading. There is some additional interest percolating along—too early to say if it will go anywhere, but if it does I'll let you know. Cheers,
Brian
Good to hear they can speak. I thought they had all been muted.
Thanks for getting this out into the public arena, Brian. Nobody else seems to be paying attention.
I've been contacted by 2 trustees about this (friendly). There may be a follow-up.
Thanks for your kind words.
They did the same in London under Maggie Thatcher.
They sold off more than 5000 school playing fields, to developers.
Very saddening for kids who could no longer do sport in school.
If their parents were rich enough, they could go to private centres.
Let’s keep that to ourselves, lest it be identified as a “precedent.”
Thanks for reading.
Thanks for all your diligence. I wonder what their agenda could possibly be?
I suspect the agenda will be only revealed one school at a time, since the entire list of 40 properties is redacted. If it weren't, the PACs and neighbours of threatened schools would have time to develop their arguments for retention.
Thanks for reading!