VSB chair Patti Bacchus goes to the mat for Vancouver's schools
Vancouver Observer
By Linda Solomon
June 13, 2010
EXCERPT

Bacchus: In BC, we need to be focusing on meeting the needs of all students by providing a continuum of programs and supports — not just "core services" as the Comptroller General (CG) so coldly defines a bare bones (fiscally prudent) school system. It does require public investment but we all benefit from the results of a well-educated population in the long-term, which is unfortunately not the provincial election cycle.

The CG's report considers our inner-city all-day kindergarten program as "spending mismanagement outside the core" despite the fact the MoE is rolling out universal all-day K and finally recognizing the value of investing early in kids — especially the most vulnerable ones.

I take issue with most of the CG report, which says we've been wasteful by providing school lunchrooms and basements for very low rents to non-profit before-and-after school care providers to support the families of children who attend our schools. The CG - an accountant with apparently not even a passing acquaintance with what the public school system is about — says we should increase their rental rates by 700 % to generate revenue.

This would put about 100% of them out of business, throw families into chaos and likely push some kids into unsafe situations and would no doubt decrease our enrollment and ultimately put us behind financially.