Vancouver Sun reporter, Janet Steffenhagen, brings us an informative and positive story about successes in aboriginal education. Her story is a fitting companion to the federal government’s apology.

Aboriginal educators find hope amid dismal student results

Janet Steffenhagen, Vancouver Sun
Published: Friday, June 13, 2008

Kathi Dickie began working with aboriginal students 25 years ago when she was employed as a home-school coordinator in Fort Nelson, tracking down truants and other students who were missing from school.

She knows from that experience — and her years at a residential school — about the troubled relations between aboriginal families and the public school system. She’s also familiar with dismal statistics that suggest aboriginal teenagers entering high school are just as likely to drop out as they are to graduate.

Yet she has found reason for hope. “I’m seeing a change,” Dickie, who later became a teacher, said in an interview, pointing to the federal apology for residential schools, a recent agreement giving B.C. first nations more control over their children’s education and gradual changes in provincial curriculum to recognize aboriginal history and culture.

Vancouver Board of Education to consider final Educational Facilities Review Phase One recommendations – News and Media Releases

Vancouver, B.C. – (June 11, 2008) – The Vancouver Board of Education trustees have received final recommendations following an extensive first phase of its Educational Facilities Review and public consultation to improve education program facilities, support innovation and develop strategic education plans that move toward operational sustainability.

The recommendations, if accepted by the Board, would lead to new opportunities in public education for the Dunbar to UBC area with a new elementary school, new secondary school, seismic upgrades for existing schools, modernization of facilities along with new programs and services for students including expanded French immersion.

In order to implement this plan, discussions with the Ministry of Education are under way to transfer property not currently used by the Vancouver Board of Education to the Ministry. The proposed property transfer would provide sufficient funding for the new secondary and elementary schools, and assist with modernization programs.

Trustees want FSA changes

Assessments should reflect ‘socio-economic factors’
Jennifer Moreau, Burnaby Now
Published: Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Burnaby school trustees are calling on Education Minister Shirley Bond to reflect socio-economic status in foundation skills assessment tests – provincewide reading, writing and math tests for grades 4 and 7.

See also, The Report Card, by Janet Steffenhagen (my source for this story).

Adlai Fisher, UBC business faculty member and Queen Elizabeth Annex parent activist, is the subject of persistent rumours around a potential run for school board. Bright, energetic, passionate, and totally commited to excellent education for his children, Adlai has been a driving force in the QEA campaign these past several months. Suggestions have been made that Clarence Hansen, newly nominated as an NPA candidate and current VSB school board chair, has approached Adlai. Whether any of this are true remains to be seen. Adlai would be a good candidate for the NPA. While I have disagreed with his approach during the recent educational facilities review I think that he would make an excellent trustee.

Young trustee won’t run again locally

School board trustee Stepan Vdovine will not be running for the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows board of education in November’s election, but might be on a Vision Vancouver slate of candidates for the Vancouver school board.

He said although he feels for the district because of the upcoming challenges – because of declining numbers, some schools in the district might have to be closed – he feels there are a number of strong candidates running for the board of education in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.

ELEANOR GREGORY RESIGNS FROM NPA TO JOIN VISION, ROBERTSON CAMPAIGN

VANCOUVER – Vancouver School Trustee Eleanor Gregory has resigned her membership in the NPA and joined Vision Vancouver. Gregory says she is committed to helping Gregor Robertson and Vision Vancouver in the upcoming election.

“While I have already endorsed Robertson for Mayor, I have decided to actively support his candidacy and felt it best that I severe ties with the NPA. Gregor represents a unique opportunity for our city and my priority is to do what I can you assist his campaign.”

Gregory says that the time is right for her to leave the NPA.

“The NPA is clearly in turmoil and I don’t need to be involved.”

Stall in facilities review raises hopes of parents

School plans up in the air
Naoibh O’Connor, Vancouver Courier
Published: Friday, June 06, 2008

A last-minute postponement of a school board committee meeting Wednesday, which was supposed to reveal final recommendations for the first phase of the district’s educational facilities review, has some parents hopeful a solution is being brokered that will provide for new schools near UBC, while possibly avoiding the selling of Queen Elizabeth annex land.

The facilities review had suggested shutting down Queen Elizabeth annex–a kindergarten to Grade 3 school–and selling the property to raise money to renovate the National Research Council building at UBC as a high school. University Hill secondary would then be turned into an elementary school. New schools are desperately needed around the university to handle a population explosion of school-age children due to development. But the controversial proposals sparked much debate and pitted different parent interests against each other.

[read rest of story here.]

This article was printed June 4th. The cancellation of the meeting by the VSB obviously occurred to late to change the copy as the Courier was on the newsstands before the notice of the meeting cancellation was sent out.

Dunbar area schools under district microscope

Naoibh O’Connor, Vancouver Courier
Published: Wednesday, June 04, 2008

A final report flowing from Vancouver School Board’s educational facilities review of the Dunbar area will be released at a committee meeting today, June 4.

The first phase of a citywide study examining the learning environments of clusters of schools, their financial stability and need for seismic mitigation, centres on Dunbar schools. It includes a controversial proposal to shut down Queen Elizabeth annex–a kindergarten to Grade 3 school–and sell the property to raise money to renovate the National Research Council building at UBC as a high school. University Hill secondary would then be turned into an elementary school. New schools are desperately needed around the university to handle a population explosion of school-age children sparked by residential development.

This message just in -Development plans deferred another week.

Tonight’s VSB Meeting Postponed

Please be advised that the Committee II/III meeting scheduled for this evening (June 4) to deal with the Educational Facilities Review – UBC to Dunbar proposals has been postponed to:

Wednesday, June 11, 2008
7:00 pm, Board Room, Vancouver School Board
1580 West Broadway

The postponement is due to the fact that discussions with principal parties are still under way relating to matters of finance and other developments pertinent to the proposals in question. Further time is required to bring these discussions to a conclusion.

The Committee of the Whole (Delegation) meetings scheduled for June 10 and June 11 have been cancelled.

We regret any inconvenience this postponement and these cancellations may cause, but it is felt to be in the best interests of all with a stake in the proposals to provide this additional time.

Clinician launches school board bid

Mental Health Clinician seeks NPA nomination for school trustee. Though Ms Woo has no experience as a parent she is described in the Vancouver Courier as having experience in schools.