Support Our Legal Challenge to Stop Vancouver's School Crisis!

Administrative Unfairness in Vancouver; Housing & Schools Not Aligned!?

Note by Vik: Below is written by the QEA Society and I have been a fan and supporter of their amazing and inspiring work. These parents are testament to the pure form of advocacy; "when you advocate for your child, you advocate for every child." Education equity is generational; education lands must be preserved and we must employ seven generation thinking. I have donated generously to support this cause and encourage you to donate whatever you can - thanks for your consideration.

The Queen Elizabeth Annex Parents Society is a registered non-profit organization dedicated to stopping school closures in the Vancouver School Board (VSB), until the VSB creates a plan for schools that aligns with other long term growth plans for Vancouver. We work with parents from other schools and the Vancouver District Parents Advisory Committee to advocate for public education and school facilities in Vancouver. We are currently fundraising to cover the security deposit and out-of-pocket expenses for an appeal to overturn a court decision on the closure of our beloved school, Queen Elizabeth Annex (QEA).

Why is QEA Parents Society challenging the VSB in court?

The VSB is setting the stage to close 40+ schools in Vancouver, with QEA, Ideal Mini School, Byng Mini School, and Carleton being the first casualties. In the case of QEA’s closure, the VSB did not follow due process and misrepresented data. If QEA Parents Society can win an appeal, it will discredit VSB’s authority to close schools, programs, and sell public assets at this critical moment when the city’s population is booming and we need to plan for more schools.?

How much money is QEA Parents Society fundraising?

We have a top team of lawyers who are working on the appeal free of charge. We are aiming to fundraise $5,000 to cover the rest of an $11,000 security deposit needed to proceed with the appeal. If we win the appeal, the security deposit will be returned and donors will be refunded. We are also accepting donations to help cover out-of-pocket expenses for our pro bono lawyers.

Why is the VSB closing schools when everyone else in Vancouver is planning for growth?

The VSB does not do long-term planning based on the same data as the City of Vancouver, Metro Vancouver Regional District and the BC Ministry of Education. VSB has their own projections, based on assumptions they don’t share, that they say forecasts a decline in enrolment. This decline in enrolment is used to justify closing and selling more than 40 school sites, which they have identified in VSB’s Land Asset Strategy (2020).?

This strategy is already being implemented. Over the last? two years, the VSB has reduced, moved and closed several schools and programs, and is now proceeding with selling school sites like QEA. Yet over the same two year period, the VSB has been experiencing an uptick in enrolment -- 1200 more students in 2022, and 900 more in 2023. This uptick goes against VSB’s rationale for closing schools due to enrolment decline, but is consistent with all other agencies' plans for growth. In fact, the increase in enrolment is spot-on the BC Ministry of Education’s projections for an increase of 10,000 students between 2022-2032 (around 1,000 students per year). VSB needs to build more schools and retain all of its existing ones to absorb this influx of students that's already happening and is expected continue over the next 30+ years.?

Why are school facilities so important?

Schools are not just places for learning; they are vital community hubs that foster social cohesion and cultural identity. VSB’s plans to sell and consolidate schools into larger facilities does not consider the long-term impacts on future generations. Neighbourhood schools, like QEA, create complete communities across Vancouver where everyone can walk or bike to school. A diversity of school sizes and school programs also provides much needed choices for families with different needs. The land and facilities decisions made today will affect children for generations, especially right now when Vancouver is preparing for explosive growth. It is crucial that school decisions are made transparently, in line with other long-term plans of the city, region and province, and with the future in mind.

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