The provincial government's approval earlier this week of a long-awaited elementary school in the International Village neighbourhood prompted trustee candidates from across the political spectrum to credit their party's lobbying efforts.
Premier Christy Clark announced $353 million towards new and upgraded schools across B.C., including the International Village location, at a press conference in Surrey Monday.
"There are school districts in our province that have experienced tremendous student enrolment growth in recent years, and are in need of funds to expand current schools or build new ones," Clark said in a press release. "That's why we are taking action today. This investment will also create more jobs, which is great news for B.C. families."
The International Village school site, which is owned by the city, is located at 600 Abbott St. close to Andy Livingstone Park.
The school board and parents have wanted another school downtown for years to deal with an increasing number of families moving into the area.
The proposed school first appeared on the district's capital plan priority list in 1999/2000, although other schools were ranked higher at that point.
The International Village school became the VSB's top priority in its 2009/10 capital plan after schools at UBC were approved, according to board chair Patti Bacchus. The Vision 麻豆传媒映画trustee called the news of its approval "terrific."
"I meet lots of young families in that area who want to live a car-free, sustainable lifestyle who are struggling to find a place for their children to go to school. So to have childcare and a school in that neighbourhood makes for a vibrant and livable community," she said.
The district envisions room for 450 Grade 1 to 7 students plus 60 full-day kindergarten students and three early childhood learning spaces, but mention of such details were not included in the announcement.
On Monday, Vision 麻豆传媒映画trustee Mike Lombardi tweeted, "Vision 麻豆传媒映画advocacy helps deliver more schools for 麻豆传媒映画kids." He also retweeted COPE trustee Jane Bouey who wrote, "COPE/Vision 麻豆传媒映画school board advocacy succeeds in getting provincial funding for International Village school."
The Vision camp put out a press release stating the approval was great news and that it "reinforces that the Vision 麻豆传媒映画school board is getting results for local families."
"Since being elected, the Vision/COPE school board has overseen an unprecedented number of major educational capital projects approved, securing over $200 million in new funding for 麻豆传媒映画schools," the release stated.
But NPA trustee Ken Denike argues Vision's take on the International Village school approval is "nonsense." He said he's also been lobbying for it along with NPA trustee Carol Gibson.
"It was strong lobbying from the [Vancouver-False Creek Liberal] MLA Mary McNeil and it was strong lobbying from us in the past," he said. "It's been on the top of the planning list for five years, which means it's not this board_.Quite frankly, the treatment of the ministers by this board would do nothing to promote any kind of building project. I think basically the government just drove past all the problems with the 麻豆传媒映画School Board and provided something the community desperately needs."
NPA trustee candidate Fraser Ballantyne agrees.
"For me, it's co-operation like this with Carol Gibson and Ken Denike working with the ministry-and Mary McNeil-that speaks highly of the building of relationships that we should be doing."
Twitter: @Naoibh
