Thread by @pattibacchus

1. I spent this morning listening to an audio recording of last's night heated #Seycove Secondary PAC meeting in @NVSD44 regarding the board's decision last week to approve "in principle" an elite Hockey Academy at their school. Board was told PAC had already been consulted #bced

2. This appears to be a classic case of management not giving the board accurate information while asking for it to approve something controversial. The School Act requires boards to consult with PAC and have demand for the program. Does not appear to be local demand for program.

3. If I was a @NVSD44 trustee, I'd be demanding to know why an Assistant Supt told the board, in writing, that consultations with the PAC had already occurred. This now puts the board in a very tough spot, with huge opposition to the program from the #Seycove PAC #northvan #bced

4. Those opposed to the program should be directly contacting @NVSD44 trustees. They have the option to rescind their decision at any time. Given they made their decision based on inaccurate information, it's the only responsible path forward, imo. #northvan

5. Adding 76 elite-level, male athletes to a school of 541 students will inevitably affect the school's culture. It's a program that costs about $22,000 to participate in, and is only open to boys. Seycove is a small, public high school. #northvan

6. This raises questions about equity, and whether public school boards should be partnering with private, for-profit operators, for their "academies." #bced #northvan

7. If you're a kid who goes to Seycove, who loves hockey and is good at it, you're out of luck if your parents can't cough up $22,000 a year (plus other related expenses). Or a girl. #bced #northvan

8. The WestVan teachers assn said their members are relieved the program is moving out of the district, and that is was problematic for several reasons. Seycove parents are questioning why @NVSD44 would want to take on those problems, if @WestVanSchools wants to get rid of them

The NVan teachers' association says it was not consulted prior to the board's decision. Why is the North Van School Board making decisions without consulting the people who will be affected by those very decisions? That's the point of having locally elected boards. #bced

9. If you wanted to do everything wrong in bringing in a new program, this is a textbook case of how to do that. What a mess. Not fair to #Seycove students, parents, staff, nor the kids in the hockey program. This is on the #northvan school board and its management. #bced

10. If you’re opposed to this elite, expensive and exclusive hockey program coming to #Seycove, contact the trustees. They can stop if. Here’s how to contact them sd44.ca/Board/BoardMem… #bced #northvan

11. Board chair Christie Sacre says “Our process for new academies adheres to the School Act, has been followed to date and continues to be followed, including informing and consulting with the PAC community.” #Seycove parents seem to have a different opinion about that. #nvan

12. And no, telling the PAC co-chairs about the proposal without giving them the chance to ask questions nor share info with their membership, nor gather feedback, is NOT consultation. This shouldn’t have to be explained. FFS. #northvan @nvsdd #seycove #nvan #bced

The board voted on the proposal before the PAC chairs even had a chance to schedule a meeting with their members. That’s not consultation. And it’s not acceptable. #bced. #NorthVancouver