Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Come to the VSB Vote on May 5 - Free Bus Ride

Click to enlarge

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

The following was sent to us by Vancouver School Trustee Sharon Gregson.

My name is Karen Georgi and this (members.shaw.ca/stopbcschoolclosures/) is a link to my website and petition. Please have a look and help me to circulate this petition Province wide. There is also a Facebook group "stopbcschoolclosures" to help circulate the petition.
I am a parent with two children in public school and started to become interested in the issue of Functional Capacity during our school district's (SD42) school closure process back in September 2007. At this time there were information sessions which welcomed public feedback. Over and over again members of the public asked why classrooms that were utilized by daycares, sensory rooms and other community uses didn't "count" when calculating functional capacity. There are programs the government has implemented such as strong start and this too cannot be factored in. A school can have every classroom utilized and it's official functional capacity could be 75 or 80%. I feel that changing the determination for what constitutes the functional capacity of our schools will help to keep schools open. Please feel free to call me or email if you have any questions.
Karen Georgi
19559 115 Avenue
Pitt Meadows
604-465-0612

Monday, April 21, 2008

VSB Meeting Report



Last night the VSB Trustees met to decide a the fate of Garibaldi. However, a motion by Ken Denike passed 5 to 2 to first study the financial aspects of the proposal. The issue will next be addressed at the Monday, May 5th meeting.
The meeting room was packed with Garibaldi students, parents and community members. Dozens of teddy bears were delivered to trustees to remind them that a community of children are depending upon a positive outcome to the vote.
About 20 children were in attendance but were so well behaved that it was up to Kate Mulligan, Seana McPherson and others to set an example by speaking out of turn and creating a community ruckus. Afterwards, the kids played tag and carried as per usual in the gardens behind the VSB. One child remarked what a great time he had had. He especially liked the part with the delivery of the teddy bears to the trustees.
More details tomorrow.

Tonight's VSB Meeting

The VSB Trustees will discuss the Garibaldi proposal at this evenings meeting. A vote on whether to keep Garibaldi open will not happen tonight but at some future date.

The Garibaldi Agenda materials can be viewed from this VSB link.

VESTA has provided a free bus for those in the Garibaldi community wishing to attend the meeting. The buses will be available for loading at 6:00 PM and will leave by 6:20 PM. (Children under 5 are not permitted on the buses due to safety rules). The bus will return aroun d 9:00 PM.

For those wishing to drive to the meeting, the address is:

Vancouver School Board
1580 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC, Canada
V6J 5K8

Main Switchboard: (604) 713-5000


Wear you blue Garibaldi T-shirt and be counted! (or just wear blue!)

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Garibaldi T-shirts for Sale!


The Garibaldi PAC is offering T-shirts with the Garibaldi logo at the low, low cost of $10 (corrected from $8 and $6). They will be on a blue background. If you'd like to have one, please go to this link: http://garibaldiannex.com/?q=node/12 and enter your name and shirt size. They will be available for pick up at the SocHop from 7-8:00 PM Saturday April 19 at Garibaldi School, or from 6:00-6:20 PM on Monday, April 21, in front of Garibaldi, where the bus will be waiting to take us to the VSB meeting.

Think what a powerful message of solidarity we would show if we were all wearing these T-shirts at the meeting!

-Garibaldi PAC

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Free Bus Ride to VSB on Decision Night

On April 21st Vancouver School Board Trustees will be deciding whether or not Garibaldi Annex will remain open.

The GARIBALDI ACTION COMMITTEE has been working very hard and has provided a strong proposal for a viable future for Garibaldi Annex. The committee is asking for your support now by showing Trustees that our community is committed to a wonderful small school with a BIG heart.

PLEASE COME OUT FOR BOARD DECISION DAY: April 21st

FREE TRANSPORTATION TO VSB: Buses will be leaving GARIBALDI ANNEX located at 1025 Slocan St. at 6:20pm

MEETING LOCATION: Vancouver School Board,
1580 West Broadway St., Vancouver, BC

MEETING TIME: 7pm – 9pm (approx.)

We will be providing FREE stuffed bears to the first 165 individuals arriving for transport to the meeting.

For more information go to the Garibaldi Annex Blog: garibaldiannex.blogspot.com
or call Hal @ 604-879-0170 or Kate 604-254-1060

To help us determine how many buses we'll need, please fill out this form (click here!) to indicate that you intend to ride the free Garibaldi bus to the meeting.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Garibaldi Proposal

The Garibaldi Proposal as presented to the Review Committee is now available on-line here: Garibaldi Proposal.

Let’s Agree Not to Dispose of Schools

BURNABY – CUPE BC is encouraging members to participate in an action to highlight school closures and the sell-off of school lands.

On Monday April 7 at 11:30 a.m. Let’s Agree Not to Dispose of Schools (LANDS) is holding a province-wide rally at the Legislature in Victoria to highlight and stop the sell-off of public school lands.

LANDS is working to unite parents, students, citizens, school districts and municipalities to convince the B.C. government to fully fund capital spending and support sustainable public education for future generations. The Ministry of Education requires districts to bring money to the table for capital projects such as new schools, thereby forcing school districts to close schools and sell the land.

LANDS believes that school lands were given in public trust for all generations of children and they are not ours to sell. Part of securing the future is keeping these lands in public hands.

For more information go to bc.lands@gmail.com.

[CUPE Link: http://cupe.ca/media/School_closures_and_]

Friday, April 4, 2008

Decision Schedule

[UPDATE] The Garibaldi Working Committee will be meeting with the VSB on April 10 to present the Garibaldi proposal. A meeting of the Garibaldi Review Committee will follow. The Trustees will make a decision on Monday, April 21, 2008.