NPA School Trustee Lisa Dominato Successfully Leads New Governance Model for Vancouver School Board  

NPA School Trustee Lisa Dominato Successfully Leads New Governance Model for Vancouver School Board

VANCOUVER – The Vancouver School Board has adopted a new governance model and policies flowing from a motion put forward by NPA Trustee Lisa Dominato. The new framework ensures the Board is serving in the best interest of students, parents and educators.

The new governance model, passed at Tuesday’s board meeting, establishes best practices for Board governance, including clarification of the roles and responsibilities of trustees, and distinguishes them from those of senior district management. It also provides a new Board Policy Handbook to modernize existing policies and an Administrative Procedures Manual.

“This marks the first comprehensive review of the Board’s policies and procedures in nearly two decades and will ensure Trustees are held to fulfil their legal duties to students, parents and staff,” said Dominato. “Numerous reports pointed to the need to overhaul the District’s governance framework. I want to thank the current trustees and staff who supported this motion for their diligent oversight of this important work.”

In developing both the new Board Policy Handbook and Administrative Procedures Manual, careful review and consideration was given to current policies, policy regulations, and bylaws. Stakeholder sessions also provided essential input to form the basis for work to update and modernize procedures. The Board will continue to collaborate with stakeholders on this important work.

“This work provides a solid foundation for our District to continue to serve Vancouver students,” said NPA Trustee Fraser Ballantyne. “I want commend the staff and trustees for their hard work to see this important work through without further delay.”

The motion is the second significant policy implemented by Trustee Dominato this month. Last week, the Board adopted livestreaming to improve Board accountability, transparency, and engagement for students and parents.

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Dominato is a School Board Trustee and current candidate for Vancouver City Council; the immediate Past Chair of the Vancouver Kettle Society; and Board Director, National Institute for Child and Youth Mental Health (FamilySmart™). 

Contact:
Lisa Dominato: 778-980-4422
Website: www.lisadominato.ca
Twitter: @lisadominato
Instagram: @lisadominato

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.