School Closure Process Timeline
June 2010
In accordance with the school closures policy, notice of potential consideration for possible closure was posted on the district’s website and sent to the principal and Parent Advisory Council at each school two months before district management intends to deliver an administrative report detailing which schools are recommended for closure.
Superintendent of Schools, Steve Cardwell also wrote to parents/guardians at the affected schools, explaining that the release of the list is the first step in a six-month process that includes public consultation.
July-September 2010
District staff is developing a thorough analysis of the schools considered for possible closure and will present that report to a joint meeting of committees II and III (Planning & Facilities, and Education & Student Services).
If the joint committee supports the report, the recommendations will be forwarded to the next available Board meeting for a decision on whether to consider closing one or more schools identified in the administrative report.
October-November 2010
October 7, 2010 letters to parents with students in schools impacted by the school closure process were distributed by Superintendent of Schools, Steve Cardwell. Read the letters to parents here.
Oct. 5, 2010, the Vancouver Board of Education directed staff to initiate a public consultation process based on the recommendations contained within the staff-prepared Administrative Report: Schools Considered for Possible Closure.
The 144-page report provides detailed information and analysis of the enrolment trends, school space utilization, current school programming, facility and site information, operational issues and financial impact for each school that received pre-notification of potential consideration for closure last June.
As a result, 14-day notice of public meeting has been issued to the following schools:
- Carleton Elementary;
- Champlain Heights Annex;
- Macdonald Elementary;
- McBride Annex; and
- Queen Alexandra Elementary.
The five schools listed above are being considered for closure effective June 30, 2011.
The public consultation schedule has been placed on the district website, advertised in local media, signs posted in English and the majority languages at the entrances of the schools, and letters to the PAC and parents/guardians of students enrolled in the school.
To view the notices, please see our School Closure Public Notices page. Feedback can be emailed to: schoolclosure@vsb.bc.ca
Trustees also approved the staff recommendation removing the following schools from the list of potential closures:
- Bruce Elementary;
- Collingwood Neighbourhood School;
- Dickens Annex;
- Hudson Elementary;
- Kerrisdale Annex; and
- Seymour Elementary.
In accordance with the school closures policy, the district will hold at least one public meeting per school identified for possible closure, with the meeting being advertised at least 14 days in advance on the district’s website, in local media, through signage at the school and written notice home to parents and guardians. Public consultation dates will be announced in October.
Stakeholders will have at least two weeks to provide additional feedback following the public meetings before district staff delivers a report to trustees summarizing the public consultations.
Feedback can be emailed to: schoolclosure@vsb.bc.ca
November-December 2010
Important dates:
- Dec 5, 2010 - Summary report to be placed on website at midday on Sunday, Dec 5, 2010.
- Dec 7, 2010 - Summary report to be formally presented to Committee II/III Meeting, VSB Education Centre, 1580 West Broadway - 7pm.
- Dec 14, 2010 - Special Board meeting/Board decision. - VSB Education Centre, 1580 West Broadway - Time TBA.
Once all public consultations are complete, the District Management Team will coordinate a consultation report summarizing results of each meeting to a joint meeting of Committees II and III that includes, at minimum:
- A fair consideration of community input;
- Consideration of future enrolment growth in the district;
- Consideration of possible alternative community use for all or part of the school.
If the decision is made to close a school, the district must communicate the decision as soon as practicable, including written notice to PACs and parents/guardians, with the notice to include instructions to parents on relocation plans for all students affected by the school closure.
If a school is to be closed at the end of the 2010-11 school year, trustees will make that decision no later than December in order to notify parents and guardians about the closure decision before registration application period ends January 31, 2011. This will also give the district adequate time notify other users of the school, such as childcare, leases, rentals and summer school of the decision to close the school.
