Special Board Meeting

Summary

• Vancouver District Student Council presented survey findings from nearly 300 students, calling for consistent STEM resources across schools, equitable AI literacy instruction, improved washroom facilities (noting $485,000 already allocated in the draft plan), more affordable and nutritious food options, and better access to mental health supports and counsellors.
• CUPE Local 15 raised concerns about proposed cuts to SSB (specialized student support) positions, loss of settlement worker roles serving multicultural families, and risks to classroom safety from moving toward a generalized support model; also flagged concerns about the shift away from in-house print services.
• DPAC (District Parent Advisory Council) attended to observe but did not present; the chair noted other formal channels remain open for parent input.
• VASA (secondary administrators) stated that budget reductions are being absorbed at the school level with no reduction in accountability or workload expectations; called on the board to actively pursue increased funding, citing unsustainable pressure on principals and vice-principals, including excessive teaching time for VPs and lack of a funded technology plan for school labs.
• FACE (elementary and adult educators) cited growing classroom complexity from inclusion policy changes, inadequate replacement of resource teachers and SSAs during absences, increasing administrative and reporting burdens on teachers, and called for in-service release time for mandated new tools; also called for protecting and expanding adult education, noting Vancouver now serves 781 FTE across just two sites as college ABE and LINC programs have been cut.
• VSTA (secondary teachers) presented data arguing per-student instructional funding has fallen 16–20% since 2013 while costs rose over 35%; calculated that restoring 2013 funding levels adjusted for inflation would require approximately $1.5 million more annually; urged the board to reverse proposed teacher staffing cuts, noting investment income and surplus international education tuition revenue as possible funding sources.