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Parents are raising alarm about the VSB’s decision to lease a large portion of Fleming Elementary School’s play area to a developer for 99 years. The lease would allow for a developer to construct a mixed-use development on the school’s play area, setting a precedent for other schools across the city.

Closed-Door Deals with Developers:
The Vancouver School Board (VSB), the second-largest landowner in the city, has been criticized for taking steps to subdivide and dispose of Fleming Elementary behind closed doors prior to public consultation with the Fleming school community.  The VSB took the following key steps to subdivide and rezone the Fleming  long before public consultation began in March 2021:

a) May 2019: The VSB submitted a subdivision application to the City without public input.
b) August 2020: An internal memo directed VSB staff to prepare for disposal or development.
c) September 2020: A VSB private board meeting approved the rezoning of the Fleming site prior to the required public consultation.

VSB Tries to Shift Blame to the Province:
The Board suggested that they need more money from the province and have been forced to dispose of a portion of Fleming to fund its projects.   However, Rachna Singh, Minister of Education and Child Care, issued a release announcing $3.75 billion to “improve, replace and build new schools” in the province of British Columbia over the next three years.

Fleming Land Needed for Future Growth:
Fleming Elementary is already full of students and is operating at 107% capacity.

The land the VSB is leasing to the developer is needed for portable classrooms to manage the growing student population. Selling or leasing the land would hinder future expansion and limit the school’s ability to meet the community’s needs.

With recent bylaw changes allowing for multiplexes and townhouses, higher-density living will only increase demand for schools.

Also, as Vancouver’s population rises, the need for safe, open spaces for children becomes even more important. Leasing Fleming’s play area to a developer for 99 years would shift this valuable public space to private use, reducing space for future students at a time when it’s needed.

A Precedent for Other Schools:
Parents warn that this decision could set a dangerous precedent for other school sites.  The VSB has published its plans to subdivide Bruce Elementary and Carleton Elementary, and those subdivision plans are suspended for the time being.

The public is encouraged to stay informed and get involved by joining the Facilities & Childcare working group and signing up for Vancouver DPAC newsletter.

Also, listen to Vancouver DPAC’s Chair, Melanie Cheng, on CBC’s Early Edition with Stephen Quinn for more information (see link) and the CBC article here.

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At Vancouver DPAC, we support school communities with advocating for their interests at the district level. Fleming Elementary Parent Advisory Council is a group of amazing and committed people. It is an honour to assist them in their advocacy.