Superintendent's Update to the Board on activities happening in the Vancouver School District

1. Report to Board [7/11/11]
Ministry tabled BC Teachers’ Council – legislation
Ministry announcements:
Kitsilano Secondary (Premier, George Abbott and Patti Bacchus)
International Village (Premier, Patti Bacchus - announced in Surrey)
DPAC city-wide meeting - will be there again at the Nov. 24 meeting
My role on the Technology Education and Careers Council (TECC) - attended a
presentation by Ministry of Labour ADM, Sharon Baskerville re the need for skilled
workers in BC by 2020.
Attended the District Calendar Committee meeting – need teachers!
Had a special presentation by folks from Pearson who represent a possible solution
to the current BCeSIS
UBC Education Studies - graduate program class: Organizations in the Educational
Context. Spoke for three hours about education and the role of superintendents
Ministry announced the BC Education Plan
Attended an excellent conference arranged by the VASSA and VEPVPA school
administrators. The two keynotes were John Abbott and Andy Hargreaves – they
complemented each other very well and spoke about the need for a renewed
education system. Andy has a new book coming out that I have had the honour to
review - probably the best summary and view of education today.
Point folks to:
WORLDS APART: BRITISH COLUMBIA SCHOOLS, POLITICS, AND LABOUR RELATIONS,
BEFORE AND AFTER 1972
For forty-years we've been witnessing a struggle between the province and the
British Columbia Teachers' Federation for control of public education. It has been a
costly struggle. One consequence of this is the currently disastrous state of labour
relations in schools, something that stands as the most serious impediment to
educational progress in a province long polarized in its political and economic
affairs.
Worlds Apart, a history of provincial schools examines the roots of this conflict, the
turbulent nature of organizational relationships in public schools, and the profound

2. changes that have marked the social world before and after 1972. It describes and
compares two very different "worlds" of schooling. During the first century of its
operation the public education system was regarded as among the best in the nation
and a source of immense provincial pride. Since 1972, however, public schooling has
fallen on hard times, surrendering its once-prominent place in the hearts of British
Columbians.
Worlds Apart chronicles the social, structural, and political changes that produced
today's troubled state in British Columbia's schools and documents how a once-
harmonious educational community has been torn apart. It analyzes the origins of
the struggle between government and the teachers' federation for control of schools
and, indeed, public policy. It also suggests that an archaic and now-adversarial
governance structure is, in itself, problematic and should be replaced.
Attended the Simon Fraser University Gala Dinner on Tuesday evening – good
opportunity to build connections with president, Andrew Petter, Laurie Anderson
and Dean Kris Magnussen – Career Education specialist).
Will attend the UBC Faculty of Education External Advisory Committee meeting on
Tuesday evening – interested to hear what directions UBC may be taking with
respect to future education and the BC Education Plan
On-going bargaining impasse and job action
Schools visited/visiting:
• Roberts Annex
• Britannia – traditional Grade 8 and First Nations Welcoming Ceremony
• King George Secondary
Visiting:
• Roberts Elementary
• Queen Alexandra - Fine Arts Multicultural Integrated Learning for Youth
School - (FAMILY)
• Project Chef with Barb Findlay at Queen Alex
• Van Tech
• John Oliver (and the new Learning Commons)
• Cunningham Elementary to read to students
• Tyee Montessori Elementary
• VLN
VSB Retirement reception at 4 pm to 6 pm on Thursday at the local Masonic Hall
Education in the Inner City: a panel discussion about inner city children living in
poverty and their school experience.

3. Monday, November 14th at 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Alice MacKay Room in the Vancouver Public Library’s Downtown Branch
Moderator:
Mark Proctor, retired VSB Principal and Former Principal at Seymour Elementary
Panel:
Carrie Gelson, Teacher at Admiral Seymour Elementary School
Dr. Mona Gleason, Associate Professor in Educational Studies, UBC
Paul Hutton, Community Services Manager Vancouver North, MCFD
Margaret Jorgensen, Principal Strathcona Elementary School
Janey Lee, Teacher Thunderbird Elementary School
Dr. Christine Loock, Developmental Pediatrics RICHER Initiative, VCHA
Scott Vandeloo, Youth and Family Worker Macdonald Elementary School
Community Plan for a Public System of Integrated Early Care and Learning: Reception
to celebrate a new vision for Child Care in BC - a ‘made in BC ‘solution to the crisis of
High Parent Fees · Low Caregiver Wages · Long Waiting Lists
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 | 3:30 – 5:30pm (program at 4pm)
SFU Harbour Centre, Vancouver