Advocacy success on UBCM School Land Use motion

Thanks to the concerted advocacy efforts of local boards and BCSTA, the three motions presented at this week's Union of BC Municipalities conference on the disposal of school district property were deferred to the UBCM Executive Council for further discussion with BCSTA. During the debate, references were made to the extensive background material provided by BCSTA. Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows' past board chair Cheryl Ashlie, now a Maple Ridge Councillor, was amongst those who spoke against the motion and in support of keeping school properties under the control of locally elected boards of education.

On Thursday, President Connie Denesiuk and Executive Director Stephen Hansen met with Minister of Education Margaret MacDiarmid, Minister of Community and Rural Development Bill Bennett, and UBCM President Robert Hobson to begin discussions on these issues. President Denesiuk stressed that there are many examples of school districts working collaboratively with local government to maximize the use of school properties. However, it is critical that locally elected boards of education maintain control over these resources to ensure proper planning for future educational needs. The meeting ended with an agreement to establish a working group to bring forward recommendations to increase collaboration in the use of unused school properties.

Another advocacy success at the UBCM conference was the endorsement of a motion to petition the provincial government to increase funding levels for primary and secondary education in the province.

For more information contact:

BCSTA Executive Director Stephen Hansen
e-mail: shansen@bcsta.org
Phone: 604-734-2721 (115)

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