As the century leaves its teen years and enters its 20s, a look back at education seems fitting.
At first glance, it appears — as the old saying goes — the more things change, the more they stay the same.
But in some cases that saying couldn’t be more wrong.
As the first decade of the new millennium ended, Barack Obama was president of the United States and Stephen Harper was our Prime Minister. Gordon Campbell had just over a year to go as B.C. premier and Margaret MacDiarmid and George Abbott had turns as education minister.
Gregor Robertson was a little more than one year into what would become a nearly 10-year Vision-dominated civic political scene in Vancouver. Patti Bacchus led a Vision-majority Vancouver School Board. The city was poised and ready to host the 2010 Olympic Games and praying for snow. Everyone had a smart phone and social media was just taking off.
In Vancouver education, the 2010 year was a turning point in several key ways. Kindergarten, previously only offered for half days, was expanded to full days. Spring Break was expanded from one week to two, in a bid to save money as the VSB grappled with a $16-million deficit.
In the vein of how much things stay the same: In 2010, the VSB was already five years into its seismic upgrade process, which was supposed to have all schools complete by 2020.
As we reach that old deadline, 50 schools are still unsafe, while only 30 have been upgraded. We didn’t even come close to the half-way mark. In 2015, the deadline to get all Vancouver schools earthquake-ready was pushed back another decade to 2030.
In 2010, VSB trustees were considering closing 11 schools, because of surplus space in the district. Sound familiar? That’s because trustees are still wrestling with this problem. Earlier this year, the board considered 28 schools for closure — including some of the same schools considered in 2010. Eventually trustees backed off on that proposal, but who knows for how long.
On the note of things that have changed tremendously, Hudson elementary, which was on the list in 2010, is now so full that trustees recently decided to phase out its French immersion program. Ten years can usher in a lot of change, including where families choose to live. These days, more families are choosing to live downtown and in condos than ever before.
Macdonald elementary, also on the 2010 list, has been renamed Xpey’ elementary, to reflect that it became an Aboriginal focus school in 2012. Xpey’ translates to “cedar” in the henqeminem dialect spoken by members of the Musqueam Nation.
In 2016, Carleton, also on the 2010 closure list, was damaged by a fire and it hasn’t reopened. Students were relocated to Cunningham elementary.
Like Groundhog Day, several of the schools considered for closure in 2010, were on the chopping block again in 2016 and again in 2019, including Bruce, Queen Alexandra, Carleton, Seymour elementaries and McBride and Champlain Heights annexes.
In the category of smart ideas that haven’t gone anywhere is a 2010 conversation between then-VSB superintendent Steve Cardwell and the Courier’s Naoibh O'Connor.
"The school district is, in a sense, land rich and cash poor,” he said at the time. “One would never want to give up the ownership of land, but what if we could work with the community and work with developers to create mid-rise buildings that would have schools and community services, and perhaps underground parking and affordable housing, as part of that structure."
Here we are a full decade later, and there is still no affordable housing on school lands, although the VSB has promised to look at the possibility of workforce housing.
On a more promising note, VSB has opened its first rooftop childcare facility, in partnership with the City of Vancouver and the province. It’s at the new Lord Nelson elementary school in east Vancouver and will provide childcare for 91 families, run by Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House. There’s even a playground on the roof.
"Co-locating childcare with schools helps build communities that are more walkable and family-friendly, one more way we're making sure Vancouver is a city that works for everyone," said Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart.
It may have taken 10 years, but it’s a step in the right direction. Now if we could get those other 50 schools rebuilt or upgraded, figure out what to do about school closures, and focus on innovative solutions such as building affordable housing on school properties, maybe the 20s will be a whole new day.
