VSB joins Park Board, City of Vancouver in live streaming public meetings
Originally posted on News 1130 – Story By Marcella Bernardo
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Vancouver’s school board is making it easier for parents, students and staff to virtually monitor public meetings.
NPA trustee Lisa Dominato says starting in November, those meetings will be live streamed.
“The City of Vancouver has had live streaming and broadcasting of meetings for a number of years now. The Park Board adopted live streaming in 2015. I think it’s time. I heard from parents and other educators that they want the opportunity to be engaged, so I think it increases transparency and accountability.”
She adds this provides many parents who wish they could attend meetings in person much more flexibility.
“Especially when we’re talking about low-engagement, in terms of voter turnout for elections. I think this is another way of supporting our democratic process with engaging the public in our decision-making.”
Dominato, who is seeking a seat on Vancouver city council in the October 20th civic election, says a recording of each meeting will also be available for up to 180 days after the live broadcast.
She says there are no additional or ongoing costs for software, but some money has been spent on video and audio equipment needed to make the board and committee rooms ready for live streaming.
Motion: Enhancing Arts Education in Vancouver Schools
Motion: Enhancing Arts Education in Vancouver Schools
Be it resolved:
That the Board direct staff to explore the possibility of partnering with the City of Vancouver in the creation of a “Materials for the Arts” program, with the goal of enhancing arts education within Vancouver schools, while enabling creative reuse of materials and diverting them from landfills and City waste streams.
Rationale:
The City of Vancouver is exploring the possibility of creating a “Materials for the Arts” (MFTA) program, modelled after New York City’s successful creative reuse centre, which is dedicated to supporting arts and cultural organizations, including more than 90% of New York public schools.
New York’s MFTA diverts over 1 million pounds of materials from the landfill each year by collecting reusable materials from businesses and individuals and making these donations available for free of charge to various arts, culture, non-profit, and educational organizations and individuals.
By diverting these materials from New York’s waste stream, MFTA reportedly offsets the equivalent of 25 times the CO2 emissions absorbed annually by the trees in New York’s Central Park.
New York’s MFTA program is operated by the City’s Department of Cultural Affairs, with additional support from the Departments of Education and Sanitation.
The Vancouver School Board’s (VSB) vision is to inspire student success by providing an innovative, caring and responsive learning environment.
The VSB strategic plan includes the following goals and objectives:
• Goal 1: Engage our learners through innovative teaching and learning practices.
• Objectives:
• Support collaborative relationships with community partners that enhance student learning and well-being.
• Support effective communication, engagement and community partnerships.
• Implement the recommendations of the Sustainability Action Plan.
The VSB’s new Environmental Sustainability Plan includes specific goals to reduce consumption of resources and waste generation, as well as lead by example.
Research has shown that schools rich in the arts engage the whole student and promote higher levels of achievement.
Partnering with the City of Vancouver in the creation of a “Materials for the Arts” program aligns with the VSB’s vision of inspiring student success through the creation of an innovative and responsive learning environment and the VSB goals set out in the new Environment Sustainability Plan.
Partnering with the City of Vancouver could enable the VSB to save money by accessing free art materials for schools.
A collaboration of this nature is a win-win-win: educational, environmental and financial benefits.
NPA School Board Trustee Lisa Dominato Statement on City Council Candidacy
For immediate release
July 31, 2018.
NPA School Board Trustee Lisa Dominato Statement on City Council Candidacy
VANCOUVER – Sitting NPA School Board Trustee Lisa Dominato issued the following statement today after being selected by the NPA Board to run for City Council.
“I want to thank my family, friends and supporters for urging me to put my name forward and for the opportunity to give back to the community.” said Dominato. “I have spent my entire career in public service and believe my track record of bringing people together to tackle complex public policy would be an asset on Council.”
“I’m committed to exploring ways to enhance the liveability of our city so that people of all ages can call Vancouver home today and in the future, and that we continue to be a compassionate city that takes care of its citizens struggling with housing, mental illness and addiction.”
In accepting her candidacy, Dominato committed to explore ways of addressing housing affordability and liveability by:
- Incenting home owners to voluntarily house an individual or family that is homeless.
- Incenting long-term home owners to offer affordable housing options to young people and middle-income families working toward getting into the market for the first time.
- Expediting building and development permits.
- Advocating vigorously for an expedited timeframe for implementation of ride sharing.
- Prioritizing public spaces, parks and community facilities for renewal, including integration of child care.
“I’m looking forward to working with Ken Sim and the NPA to develop a strong platform that will demonstrate a transparent and effective plan to make life easier for Vancouver citizens and people who want to live here.”
To learn more about Lisa Dominato go to: https://lisadominato.ca/about-lisa/
-30-
Dominato is the immediate Past Chair of the Vancouver Kettle Society, Board Director, National Institute for Child and Youth Mental Health (Family Smart) and sitting Vancouver School Board Trustee.
Contact
Lisa Dominato: 778-980-4422
Website: www.lisadominato.ca
Twitter: @LisaDominato
Minister of Education and Vancouver School Board trustees want the city to speed up its building permit approval process
“The Ministry of Education says it takes longer to get a school built in Vancouver than it does in other districts, and some members of the Vancouver School Board are hoping city hall will streamline that process by speeding up its approval of school development and building permits.
According to the Ministry of Education it takes about five years to get a school built in Vancouver. Of the five years, VSB staff and trustees report that it takes 12 months to approve a development permit for a new school and eight months to approve a building permit for a seismically safe replacement school.”
VSB to debate Nexus-style approach to upgrade approval process
“A call is going out to help fast-track school upgrades and construction in Vancouver.
A Nexus-style approach to the approval process will be debated at Monday night’s Vancouver School Board meeting.
NPA trustee Lisa Dominato has tabled a motion to prioritize permits for reliable developers.”
Province needs to develop mental health strategy for kids
“This week a 20-something fellow named Aaron Leung announced he was seeking a nomination to run for the Vancouver School Board. If elected, he said he would seek to “improve student access to mental health services.” His bid for school board dropped into my email box the same day 250 students and 40 educators from 18 Vancouver schools attended a “summit” at Sir Charles Tupper secondary school under the banner “Balancing our Minds.” (Last year, more than 2,000 high school aged kids attended five such meetings across the province.)
Vancouver School Board votes to expand program training senior care aides
“A 6-3 vote by the Vancouver School Board Monday night means more high school students will have the training to work in health care.
As it stands, two students per year in the district are able to receive duel credit while they work as senior care aides.
The motion tabled by Trustee Lisa Dominato called for that number to rise.”
Mental Health support encouraged for BC students
“Less than a week before National Child and Youth Mental Health Day on May 7th, a Vancouver trustee hopes she can convince the provincial government to develop an early intervention strategy for all BC schools.
Lisa Dominato says more than 80,000 children between four and 17 years old have mental health issues.
“In many cases, they will turn to their peers for help or to some of the teaching staff within the schools, so I think it’s time to be looking at things a little bit more holistically. We have pockets of excellence and great things happening, but what I want to see is a strategy that really ensures there’s consistencies.”
Dominato, who chairs Vancouver’s non-profit Kettle Society which supports adults living with mental illness, also has unanimous support from the BC School Trustee Association to lobby Victoria for support.”
Seismic upgrade of Lord Strathcona elementary a Canadian first
“Keane Joya is pretty stoked on Ireland.
The plucky Grade 7 Lord Strathcona elementary student told the Courier as much while he and his classmates showed off research projects delving into different countries and cultures.
VSB trustee seeks more spots for students to train as health care aides
“A Vancouver School Board (VSB) trustee has tabled a motion to increase the number of spaces for health care assistants in the district’s dual credit program.
The program has been organized in partnership with Vancouver Community College, and NPA trustee Lisa Dominato said it allows students to gain credits in high school and toward their post-secondary diploma.”