These policies were approved by COPE members in August 2022. COPE is a democratic, grassroots, member-led party. Become a COPE member today.

Governance

A COPE School Board will continue to advocate for public education by promoting and advancing engagement with parents (including, through the use of the District Parent Advisory Council and Parent Advisory Committees, students, unions, employee groups, and the broader community.)

A COPE School Board will continue to live stream board meetings to reach out to the communities and neighborhoods that it serves.  Online meetings need to be moderated and allow for further questions, commentary, and input. 

A COPE School Board will adhere to an open, honest, and transparent process of consultation.  This will be achieved by actively listening to and gaining an understanding of what is important to our stakeholders.

A COPE School Board will advocate for the restoration of local bargaining to allow the school board to negotiate directly with all stakeholder unions.

A COPE School Board will work towards more democratic involvement of education stakeholders and the broader community through processes that include, but not limited to, open meetings, town halls, brainstorming sessions, and participatory budget processes with delegations. 

A COPE School Board will ask resident Nations whether they wish to develop with the school board a co-managed Vancouver school system.

Health and Safety

A COPE School Board will ensure all students have access to farm to school hot lunches that reflect cultural diversity.

A COPE School Board will develop an action plan to pressure the provincial government to address the need for earthquake amelioration of schools. 

A COPE School Board will develop an action plan to address health and safety measures that may need to be adapted or modified post COVID-19. 

Climate/Environment

A COPE School Board will recognize and act to reduce the disproportionate effects of environmental degradation on vulnerable communities including, but not limited to, Black and Indigenous peoples.

A COPE School Board will mandate that all new builds and major renovations will include a transition to renewable energy.

 A COPE School Board would declare a climate change emergency and direct the staff to develop a Climate Action Plan that establishes targets and strategies commensurate with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s call to limit warming to 1.5 degrees by December 31st, 2023.

A COPE School Board will establish a Climate Change Accountability Committee that includes staff, parents, students, and community members to implement and assess the Climate Change Accountability plan.

Teaching and Learning

A COPE School Board will foster education policies that promote inclusive, equitable, accepting, and safe school environments for students. 

A COPE School Board supports aligning special education funding with identified special education needs.  This includes advocating for per-student funding for high incidence special needs students (students with learning disabilities) and those who need moderate behavior support. 

A COPE School Board will advocate for targeted funding to support the early identification and designation of students with special needs, particularly in Kindergarten and Grade 1. 

A COPE School Board will see the classroom and services to the classroom as its first priority.

A COPE School Board will support an action plan that addresses post pandemic recovery plans, including a focus on mental health and well-being and addressing areas of learning that have been impacted. 

A COPE School Board will advocate for acceleration of a universal $10 a day childcare system in BC, which would include the provision of before and after school care. 

A COPE School Board will continue to support in-district, tuition-free adult basic (ABE) programs. 

A COPE School Board supports the reduction of class sizes when considering inclusion and composition. 

Facilities

A COPE School Board will strengthen school facilities by developing a district approach to protect and improve neighborhood schools, including daycare/after school care space, gyms and activity rooms that meet the needs of the school community, and will lobby for school playground funding to remove and replace unsafe playground equipment (i.e. securing and boosting the Annual Facility Grant).

A COPE School Board calls for the rebuilding and reopening of Carleton School and redeployment of excess land to meet public needs such as affordable public housing.

A COPE School Board will oppose the sale of all School Board land.

Funding

A COPE School Board will advocate for sufficient funding to allow smaller class sizes at both the elementary and secondary level.  

A COPE School Board will advocate eliminating public funding for private schools.

A COPE School Board will not be complicit or co-operate in further cuts to the public education system in Vancouver.

A COPE School Board will campaign and work with other school districts to achieve equitable taxation to adequately fund schools and public services.

Transportation

A COPE School Board will encourage and facilitate the use of sustainable and accessible methods of transportation by staff, parents, and students, including walking, cycling, and free accessible public transportation.

Equity

A COPE School Board will meaningfully approach local First Nations and Indigenous groups to make a welcoming space, invite conversation, and work to ensure educational success is met. 

A COPE School Board will develop a sanctuary schools policy to ensure that all students in the district are provided with an education in a safe and welcoming environment.  This includes children and families with precarious immigration status or no immigration status. 

A COPE School Board will ensure that issues of racism are taken seriously, including incidents of anti-black racism, and will move to make any recommendations that come through the BC Human Rights Commission to ensure safe and equitable spaces in schools.

Suzie Mah - COPE VSB Trustee