In June 2024, the Vancouver School Board (VSB) launched an “Engagement Survey” to assess its communication and engagement processes. While we appreciate their efforts, Vancouver DPAC raised significant concerns about the survey’s timing, inclusivity, and transparency in a letter dated June 11, 2024 (click here to read).

Our key concerns included:
– Inadequate notice for the survey launch.
– Poor timing, with the survey released in June.
– Lack of clarity on the urgency of the survey.
– Failure to address the needs of marginalized groups and those with limited tech access.
– Parents’ distrust in digital platforms due to privacy concerns.
– Insufficient parent involvement in the survey design.

Despite these concerns, the survey proceeded, gathering 5,547 responses from parents and caregivers in the summer of 2024. The results highlight the issues in parents’ communication with the VSB and the need for consistent follow-up to rebuild confidence in the VSB’s processes.  At page 29 of the report, parents expressed “a desire for more transparent and impactful outcomes from their engagement, wanting clear evidence that their feedback is being seriously considered and acted upon.”  Further, the report stated: “While some communications are well-received, others are perceived as not effectively addressing the needs or concerns of parents and guardians, sometimes seen as generic or not informative.”

At Vancouver DPAC, we strongly urge the VSB to prioritize meaningful collaboration and transparency to restore trust and foster stronger partnerships with school communities.

We will be proposing the following motion at our upcoming General Meeting:

Motion: Promoting Transparency and Accountability at the VSB
“Be it resolved that the Vancouver District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) calls on the Vancouver School Board (VSB) to take steps to enhance transparency and accountability in its decision-making processes, as follows:

1. Planning opportunities: Provide greater opportunities for parents to be involved as partners in planning with the VSB on educational issues, including without limitation matters related to land use, facilities, food and educational programming;

2. Advisory opportunities: Guarantee accessible opportunities for parents to consult and advise on any education issue at all levels of decision-making, including without limitation both in-person and online participation options during public delegations, Board and committee meetings. Ensure that parent concerns, questions, and feedback are considered and reflected in Board and committee decisions.

3. Communication: Provide accessible, complete and transparent communication, allowing ample time for response. Implement regular updates from the VSB to parents on various issues affecting the district and school communities.

4. Access to Information: Provide parents with clear ways to obtain information and answers to questions relating to various educational issues.

5. Financial Transparency: Provide clear and accessible financial reports to the public, including detailed breakdowns of budget allocations, expenditures, and funding sources. Ensure that decisions impacting the school district’s budget and resources are discussed in open meetings, with sufficient opportunities for parent review and feedback before final decisions are made.

The rationale for this motion is to address gaps in transparency, communication, and parent engagement in VSB decision-making processes. Parents and caregivers are critical stakeholders whose insights lead to better outcomes for students and the community.

The above motion passed at the Vancouver DPAC Executive meeting on November 14th, 2024, and we will be moving this to the General Meeting for a district wide vote on November 28th, 2024.

The Executive Team,
Vancouver District Parent Advisory Council