Over the last six years, I’ve heard from parents, students and members of the public about the barriers they face when trying to access their elected trustees.
Here are some of the barriers from just the last few years:
- A complex process to access meetings
- Inadequate time to prepare for decisions
- Increasing private sessions
- Reduced time for the public or stakeholder groups to comment
- An arbitrary removal of the stand alone personnel committee, which is the only meeting dedicated to discussing the issues affecting staff
- A complicated process to sign up to speak at meetings
- Being turned away from speaking on the public record
- Being literally locked out of committee meetings
I am concerned and know many of you are too.
I have observed the ABC-dominated board make changes to committee meetings making it difficult for union groups and parent representatives to contribute to the agenda, ask questions and get answers. This is a major problem because at every meeting, Trustees make decisions on important issues, such as infrastructure, staff, student well-being, food programs, school supplies, working conditions and more.
In order to make those decisions, Trustees need to hear from those impacted by those decisions: students, families, staff, and community.
In their June 11, 2024 letter, the District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) asked that the
- “VSB to take meaningful steps to rebuild trust with parents and caregivers. Vancouver DPAC urges the VSB to prioritize genuine collaboration and transparency.”
Further, in the May 2024 survey of Unions representing VSB employee groups it was found that,
- “a significant portion of employees have expressed intentions to leave the district within the next five years, citing dissatisfaction with working conditions and a lack of appreciation.”
- “75% of Vancouver teachers feel undervalued and unrecognized by their employer.” A reduction of classroom supports and complex student needs are taking a profound toll on mental health and stress levels.
Join Me and Fight Back
Take a moment to watch my short video about this here.
My motion asks that Trustees improve opportunities for public engagement and participation in decision-making to address the issues of all our stakeholders including students, families, staff, and community.
I’d love to hear from you on this issue, email me at [email protected].
Please consider joining me and OneCity supporters at the Monday, January 20th board meeting and speak in favour. As always, what I love most about this work is being connected to you, so please be in touch!
Text of Proposed Motion
Date of meeting: January 20th, 2024
TO: Board of Education
FROM: Jennifer Reddy, Trustee
RE: Motion – Democracy, Accountability and Public Participation at VSB Board and Committee Meeting
PROPOSED MOTION:
That the VSB acknowledges the important, valuable, and necessary contributions to public education from members of the public, students, families, and employee groups in Vancouver;
That the VSB enhance opportunities for public input and public accountability at board meetings (Policy 7):
- Allow members of the public to speak to agenda items either in person or online;
- Publish agendas for all meetings online one full week (7 days) prior to the meeting.
And that the VSB enhance opportunities for public input and public accountability at standing committees and delegation meetings (Policy 7, 8):
- Allow members of the public to attend and/or choose to speak on agenda items either in person or online at committee meetings and delegation meetings (Policy 8);
- Ensure all discussions by trustees and stakeholders in committees (including small group discussions) are live-streamed and minuted in detail so input can be widely shared;
- Allow stakeholders including DPAC, VDSC, and union representatives to approve the agenda, and introduce new agenda items, information items, and/or new business at standing committee meetings;
- Ensure that all committee members can ask questions and receive answers at standing committee meetings on the public record (to further Policy 8), and specifically, improve participation and debate as provided by Policy 8;
- Reinstate the Personnel Committee as a stand-alone committee.
And that the VSB enhance its public accountability (Policy 7):
- Restrict the decision-making role of Agenda Setting Committee to setting agendas only;
- Enforce policy 7, section 6.1 to restrict items being discussed in board private sessions to listed items in sections 6.1.1-6.1.12 only.
RATIONALE:
Whereas:
- As a part of the publicly-elected Vancouver School Board, Trustees must understand issues that impact students, families, staff, and community.
- At every meeting, Trustees make decisions on important issues, such as infrastructure, staff, student well-being, food programs, school supplies, working conditions, and more.
- In order to make those decisions, Trustees need to hear from those impacted by those decisions: students, families, staff, and community.
- Instead of decreasing public engagement, Trustees need more opportunities to hear from the public on decisions in front of them. When Trustees make decisions in an open meeting, with opportunities to hear from the public, it increases transparency and accountability.
In their June 11, 2024 letter, the District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) asks for the:
- “VSB to take meaningful steps to rebuild trust with parents and caregivers. Vancouver DPAC urges the VSB to prioritize genuine collaboration and transparency.”
Further, in the May 2024 survey by Unions representing VSB employee groups, it is found that:
- “A significant portion of employees have expressed intentions to leave the district within the next five years, citing dissatisfaction with working conditions and a lack of appreciation.”
And that:
- “75% of Vancouver teachers feel undervalued and unrecognized by their employer.”
A reduction of classroom supports and complex student needs are taking a profound toll on mental health and stress levels.
Trustees should improve opportunities for public engagement and participation in decision-making to address the issues of all our stakeholders including students, families, staff, and community.