1/ Let's talk about the @VSB39 LRFP and capacity targets. In particular, let's touch on the 2016 LRFP, what was in place before, and where we've ended up since, including the 2019 draft LRFP. 2/ The main purpose of the 2016 LRFP was to present a plan to meet the 95% capacity target set by the Ministry. That target was met with immense opposition with the Board even passing a motion confirming the target but "not because it will support our education mission".

1/ Thank you to @VanDPAC for making the @VSB39 LRFP the topic of their meeting this last Thursday. It is very clear that this is a complicated issue with a sordid history that has major implications for the school district for many years. 2/ It is also clear that there is a lot of obfuscation going on behind the scenes and that many foundational questions will not be answered in time for a comprehensive discussion. In particular, the trustees need to demonstrate leadership and provide clear guiding principles.

1/ While back to school is, of course, top of everyone's minds, we can't forget that there is other work still to be done. At the VSB, two such areas are anti-racism and the Long-Range Facilities Plan (LRFP). 2/ On the former, I'm really disappointed that trustees chose to not take any further action re: the June 22nd comments by Fraser Ballantyne other than allowing him to reduce his responsibilities. I would like to hear publicly from any trustee how that is acceptable to them.

1/ To state my bias up front: I consider @andrealsinclair a friend and she was an advisor and mentor to me while I was on the @VanDPAC executive. She is FAR better at playing this game than I am, and I think we're lucky to have her steering @BCCPAC. 2/ So let me say something that needs saying: there's no way in hell she didn't raise parent concerns about the reopening plan while it was being developed. The way that Andrea works is to present criticism in private and support in public, so we only see the latter.

1/ Reading the @VSB39 Board Policy Handbook on how an official complaint against a trustee is handled is making my head spin. An official complaint has to be made by another trustee, and, if the complaint proceeds, the complainant is essentially required to prosecute the case. 2/ Moreover, the complainant is excluded from deliberations, including the drafting of resolutions. This is a major departure from Robert's Rules in which managers representing, and who are members of, the body make the case, e.g., the House managers in the impeachment hearings.

1/ We've heard the Ministry of Education say there are 10,000 empty seats in the Vancouver School District. Others have pointed out, correctly, I think, that this has been, and continues to be, coded language for closing schools and possibly selling land. 2/ However, rather than focusing on how we're going to deal with these 10,000 empty seats, maybe the first question we should be asking ourselves is: how many "empty seats" do we need to effectively provide the educational services that kids need?

1/ A lot of the details reported from this meeting are very worrisome. Here are the main ones for me:

https://twitter.com/vikkhanna/status/1224962478578077696

2/ The structural underfunding of public ed in BC is wholly owned by the current gov't, though the untold damage to the system by the previous gov't should rightfully and continually be called out. But solutions are now up to the current gov't and they haven't been forthcoming.

1/ Tomorrow night, the @VSB39 trustees will vote whether or not to continue the process to close Queen Elizabeth Annex. @VanDPAC believes that the process should be halted and, if deemed necessary by the trustees, taken up again once the LRFP is complete. @VSB39 @VanDPAC 2/ I've been asked what @VanDPAC hopes to gain by advocating to halt the process. In short, we want a fair and transparent process that puts the needs of children at the heart of decision making.

1/ From the beginning of the Queen Elizabeth Annex closure process, we've heard from @VSB39 trustees that they expect to learn more information, and have more questions answered, in subsequent phases of the process. @VSB39 2/ But if relevant information is not known at the outset of a closure process, how can that process lay claim to being either transparent or fair?

1/ The first lesson I learned in engaging with the VSB on enrolment issues is that you have to look at a full cohort lifecycle to understand the impact of proposed changes. This mean projecting those changes forward 8 years for elementary and 5 years for secondary. 2/ This is necessary when considering the closure of QEA and consolidating it with JQ. The two schools currently have 3 K classes between then, and the staff report coming to the Facilities Planning Committee on Wednesday proposed to reduce that to 2.

1/ A core responsibility of being on @VanDPAC is to act as a @VSB39 stakeholder and hold the Board accountable, and last night's discussion to consider closing Queen Elizabeth Annex raised some serious concerns. @VanDPAC @VSB39 2/ My expectations of the QEA discussion were coloured by DPAC's statement to the Board earlier in the day pointing out that the inclusion of a CSF school in the Heather Lands proposal could potentially make it unnecessary for the VSB to be considering closing QEA at all.