The Vancouver District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) is a collection of parents (elected by PACs) working with the common goal of supporting education for all children of Vancouver. We meet on a regular basis during the school year and advocate to staff, trustees and speak to media. We’ve curated a recent list of communications, media and positions.
Returning from school after the Spring Break brings a focus on the final 3 months of the school year. The warmer weather opens up opportunities for outside learning activities, biking/rolling to school, and lingering at pick up or drop off to talk to other parents and enjoy the sunshine.
The Vancouver DPAC Health & Safety Working Group (HSWG) shares the concerns expressed in the unions’ joint press release[1] that resource teachers are regularly being pulled from their duties to fill in for absent teachers and about the dramatic reduction in student support worker ratios this year. Resource teachers and support workers are vital to the healthy and safe functioning of every school, and therefore to the health and safety of all children and school staff. We call on the VSB to immediately rectify these issues and develop a plan to address shortages over the long term.
The Vancouver DPAC Inclusive Education Working Group (IEWG) shares the concerns expressed in the unions’ joint press release that resource teachers are regularly being pulled from their duties to fill in for absent teachers and about the dramatic reduction in student support worker ratios this year.
As BC DPACs, we stand with our children, parents, and caregivers to support and recognize the diverse culture in our schools and our society. We believe SOGI inclusive education reflects diversity including the acknowledgment of multiple genders and sexualities, which plays a pivotal role in educating our students about the world they inhabit.
Why clean air?
Current indoor air quality is no longer good enough to protect us from the rise of wildfires, airborne illnesses, pollution, and CO2 buildup. The latest science is clear, and the technology is available to monitor and improve air quality in schools, for everyone’s health.
VSB, via Superintendent Helen McGregor, has announced the following administrative elementary principal moves:
I imagine you are as relieved to be in cherry blossom season as we are. It has been a chilly spring so far, but warmer days are at last on the horizon.
As we welcome spring and warmer weather, our focus at DPAC for April will be on the VSB Budget. Our team has also released some information on the budget process and on what we know of the VSB budget.
This continues to be a busy school year for VSB and its stakeholders and rights holders. DPAC has been included in stakeholder meetings during the current budget draft process.