Educational Facilities Review Background

On January 10, 2008, VSB announced its Educational Facilities Review and its plan to collect feedback through a series of public meetings, surveys, school team reports, and delegate presentations to the Board of Trustees. At stake is a proposal to:

• Close Queen Elizabeth Annex;
• Carry out seismic renovations at Queen Mary, Jules Quesnel, and Queen Elizabeth; and
• Build 2 new schools at UBC.

Residents in UEL and UNA desperately need the 2 new schools recommended in the proposal. Although the provincial government, who is responsible for providing funds to build new schools, approved the expansion of the current UHill Secondary school from 325 to 675 student spaces, it did not approve funds to build a new elementary school due to excess space in the district.

In reviewing the district’s excess space, VSB identified Queen Elizabeth Annex (QEA) as a candidate for amalgamation with Queen Elizabeth. QEA offers both an English instruction program and a French Immersion program. Currently, there are 2 elementary schools with English instruction (QEA and Queen Elizabeth) and 2 elementary schools with French Immersion (QEA and Jules Quesnel) in the same catchment area QEA is located. VSB is recommending that both the English and French Immersion programs at QEA be moved into Queen Elizabeth.

Some parents feel that UBC should pay for a new school at its campus. On Friday, January 25, 2008, UBC issued a statement which was summarized in a Vancouver Sun Article. It states that although UBC, like other developers, is required to provide land for a new school, it is the provincial government that is responsible for providing funds to build new schools out of our taxes. Taxes which all homeowners in the UEL and UNA pay and are entitled to. A further, more detailed document was released to parent reps on Monday, January 28, 2008 which addressed specific questions parents of Queen Elizabeth Annex raised. This document made clear the mis-interpretation of planning documents by parents of QEA and recounted UBC’s proposal to finance the renovation of the NRC building into a new secondary school in return for a 30-yr lease to re-pay the cost. However, the proposal, which was subject to approval by the provincial government, was rejected due to its rules for funding capital projects.

Like other public entities, the VSB must work within a myriad of policies and regulations. VSB’s proposal is a result of more than 5 years of discussions involving parents, UBC, and VSB. Let’s not let it go to waste. Our fight for new schools is not over yet. Please tell VSB what you think (see email addresses to the right). Email rebuild.uhill@gmail.com with comments the school team can pass along to the Trustees who will be deciding the future of our schools.