D. S. Silver

[Vancouver DPAC @VanDPAC]

Looks like our 16 DPAC Questions were elementary for @councillorwiebe; he's the 1st one to have his replies back to [email protected]

Thank You Michael!

Other #vanpoli Mayor & Council Candidates; Deadline extended to 6am so you have more time.

[Vik Khanna @vikkhanna]

Dear #vanpoli,

Who wants to hear from @CllrHardwick, @kennedystewart, @marissenmark, @KenSimCity about how school planning & overall amenity planning is going to happen, aligned with their housing growth plans?

Retweet and @VanDPAC will create questions & invites to a Forum.

[D. S. Silver @DSSilver2]

@SaveMACC2022 ***IMPORTANT*** Livestream is now running at this link (just started):
https://t.co/Wfh0w4Tw1m
(They had tech difficulties.)

[Save MACC @savemacc]

The issues that the new @VSB39 Trustees will decide affect every VSB family. These decisions will include whether MACC and other gifted ed programs continue. Please watch -- and vote!
#vanpoli #bced #savemacc #VanDPAC

[Save MACC @savemacc]

The evidence is very clear that educational acceleration for the gifted is educationally efficacious,” said David Lubinski, professor of psychology and human development” at Vanderbilt University, and study co-author
https://t.co/6Zn9e0twln

[Vik Khanna @vikkhanna]

Most excellent motion Trustee @reddyforchange! Flows with: "The Board’s fundamental obligation is to preserve and enhance, the public trust in public education, generally, and in the affairs of its operations in particular." #vanpoli #bced

[Becky Palmer @palmer_becky]

@ejeancarroll @s_sharky214

[Save MACC @savemacc]

So far the only trustee who is trying to get the VSB to do the right thing and offer bus service to MACC students is @reddyforchange

[Save MACC @savemacc]

Why deny school bus service to MACC students? The VSB says it’s NOT about budget – remember @janetrfraser refused to let anyone speak on this issue because it “does not relate to governance and/or budget” (https://t.co/lYyZC7kGJH)

[D. S. Silver @DSSilver2]

@amandajhillis @SaveMACC2022 @VSB30 @amandajhillis My understanding is that bus service is offered to all ELEMENTARY students in district Special Ed. programs, regardless of personal situation/need (unless their program is at their catchment school). Only MACC students are excluded.
#savemacc

[Save MACC @savemacc]

With the policy change effective this fall, MACC will be the only special-needs program in the district for which bussing will not be offered. Staff either don't get that #giftedness is a special need, or they understand and they want to discriminate against gifted kids anyway.

[D. S. Silver @DSSilver2]

@SaveMACC2022 Excluding vulnerable families from access also shrinks the program. Hard not to see this as part of an overall @VSB39 "end of life" strategy for MACC. #savemacc

[Save MACC @savemacc]

.@VSB39 is failing to follow its own policy " Requests for the transportation of students with Ministry identified special needs shall be considered on the
individual circumstances of the student and the collective circumstances of the bus and bus route
the student rides."

[D. S. Silver @DSSilver2]

Ensuring equitable access for a vulnerable student population is absolutely a governance issue.
#savemacc @VSB39 @janetrfraser @CarmenCho17 @reddyforchange @awong39 @parrott_barb @OliverHanson @Frasergb @estiemgonzalez @fishtron #bced #bcpoli #vanpoli

[D. S. Silver @DSSilver2]

One of the rejected delegations was mine. I was told it "does not relate to governance and/or budget.” I'd hoped to challenge the inequitable provision of bus services for Special Ed. district programs. (VSB offers a bus for all Special Ed. kids EXCEPT incoming MACC).

[Save MACC @savemacc]

3 parents asked, by deadline, to speak at the June 20 VSB Delegations meeting on the issue of bus transportation for new MACC students. Their requests were denied by an unnamed person, presumably the chair @janetrfraser (thread) #vanpoli

[D. S. Silver @DSSilver2]

No exceptions for families experiencing hardship: Single parents across town, siblings w/medical needs, etc.
Families in need who don't get a bus offer by Fri., June 24 deadline must decline their child's place in this program if they physically can't get them there.

[Save MACC @savemacc]

According to the Ministry of Education, giftedness is a Special Needs designation for which districts are required to provide accommodation. MACC is a special-needs program, not a choice program, and being gifted is not a choice.

[Save MACC @savemacc]

Parents have been given until June 24 to accept an offer of a MACC placement for their child, and many of them cannot accept it if they are not offered bussing.

[Save MACC @savemacc]

Thanks @VanDPAC for your continued support for having MACC be accessible regardless of family circumstances. School transport is a huge barrier esp. for single parents and for those with inflexible work. Thread from DPAC's letter to @VSB39:

[Shaun Kalley @shaunkalley]

@ksigurdson @rpitfield @VSB39 Krista, if you're elected to the Board in October, what will you do to bring staff in line with those goals?