Update: Just got the @environmentca.bsky.social alert. Better late than never!

Surprised we're not hearing official warnings about today's air quality in Vancouver.

While govt says there's no $ for public sector wage increases, it gives $570 million/yr to private schools. Let's redirect that to public schools and give teachers & support workers the increases they deserve. #bcpoli #bced @bctf @bcgeu @CUPEBC

The top brass at @VSB39 don't seem to be affected by budget constraints (while lowest-paid workers get wage cuts) and they apparently can't afford to pay living wages to people who drive kids with disabilities. I believe there have been raises since these numbers. #vanpoli #bced

I'm not opposed to compensating people well when they're outstanding performers. But this? When they cut school bus drivers' already-low salaries? #vanpoli #bced

The @vsb39.bsky.social has posted a statement regarding ABC School Trustee Alfred Chien's X/Twitter post. Has he apologized to the parents and DPAC? #vanpoli #bced www.vsb.bc.ca/page/80102/f...

1. After decades of involvement with @VSB39, I’ve tried to tune out. It’s just too disheartening to watch the breakdown in relationships between the board, parents & staff — and the cost to students is enormous. #vanpoli #bced #bcpoli /2

Trustee Chien needs to apologize to parents and DPAC and learn to sincerely listen to parents who are advocating for their children's learning needs to be appropriately supported. And he needs to act on that advocacy. That is the job of a trustee. Do the job or resign #vanpoli #bced

What is the job of a school board trustee if not reading emails from interest holders and being responsive to them? One ABC trustee in @vsb39.bsky.social decided to treat advocacy emails from over 200 parents/caregivers as “spam”, and to post his grievance on X, compromising parent privacy.

Just voted in Vancouver — whole process took 72 seconds from when I walked into the polling station. The election workers were friendly and helpful. Five stars. Would recommend. 🗳️🇨🇦👍

Shocking and disgraceful. Shame on the Vancouver School Board. vancouversun.com/news/vancouv... #vanpoli #bced #bcpoli

If you’d like to support the fired Greater Victoria School Trustees’ legal challenge, you can donate here: chuffed.org/project/1244... #bced #bcpoli

Rather than relying on headline-grabbing cell phone bans, we should focus on a more thoughtful, comprehensive approach to managing tech use in schools. This will better equip youth for balanced, constructive use of cell phones in the long run. An interesting article by @pattibacchus.bsky.social

Statement from the fired, Greater Victoria School Board. This is an important issue with significant and troubling implications for the role of school boards in BC. I hope they’re successful. @eby-david.bsky.social @lisabeare.bsky.social @bcsta.bsky.social @publicedbc.bsky.social #bced #bcpoli

I hope they’re successful. @lisabeare.bsky.social’s firing of the democratically elected Greater Victoria school board over a policy disagreement set an alarming and dangerous precedent. #bced #bcpoli cheknews.ca/fired-victor...

Are school cellphone bans really the way to go? There's new research that casts doubt on this approach. Check out our latest blog post at instituteforpubliceducation.org/new-research... and let us know that you think. #cdned #PublicEdPublicGood #bced

Happy weekend!

Just canceled a long-planned family trip to Hawaii. #elbowsup 🇨🇦

Complaints about Vancouver School Board meeting access & transparency have been coming for years, even before ABC swept the 2022 elxn. But a motion for change has been stuck in limbo, and, in the meantime, the cops got involved. My @thetyee.ca piece today thetyee.ca/News/2025/03...

Is this some kind of a (terrible) joke? #bcpoli www.delta-optimist.com/highlights/f...

In BC this year, the public is subsidizing private schools to the tune of a staggering $570 million dollars, while public school boards struggle to balance their budgets. Let’s redirect that money back to public schools. #bced #bcpoli www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...

We’d love to have you join us! #bced instituteforpubliceducation.org/we-hope-to-s...

New from @ccpa: Public schools offer children from all backgrounds equitable opportunities. They are central to healthy democracies, and that’s a good reason to publicly fund them and ensure they’re accessible to all. By @pattibacchus.bsky.social #cdned www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...

Hope to see you there! instituteforpubliceducation.org/we-hope-to-s... #bced

My respect for Cllr @rebeccaleebligh.bsky.social has increased 1000 percent since her expulsion from that aging frat-bro caucus. #vanpoli

This is such a tragic case and we don’t have all the facts yet, but it reinforces the need to think carefully about whether police belong in our schools and around our kids on a regular basis. @lisabeare.bsky.social www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #bced #bcpoli

Great letter! I hope @lisabeare.bsky.social and @davidebybc.bsky.social are listening. #bced #bcpoli

I can’t stress enough how disappointed I am in @eby-david.bsky.social and the BCNDP for this outrageous move that shows shocking disrespect for local governance. #bced #bcpoli

The BCTF joins the chorus of voices speaking out against the @bcndpcaucus.bsky.social @lisabeare.bsky.social firing of the democratically elected Greater Victoria School Board #bced #bcpoli www.bctf.ca/news-and-opp...

So many excellent lines packed into a short read. Brilliant.

In BC this year, the public is subsidizing private schools to the tune of a staggering $570 million dollars, while public school boards struggle to balance their budgets. Let’s redirect that money back to public schools. #bced #bcpoli www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...

There are growing calls from families, caregivers and employees to scrap a BC Crown corporation + bring its services back under direct government control. Critics say CLBC has a become a bloated bureaucracy that too often fails vulnerable British Columbians. #bcpoli www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...

Read the whole statement here: www.sniwwoc.ca/blog/2025/1/... @lisabeare.bsky.social @eby-david.bsky.social #bced #bcpoli

We should all be alarmed at how political BC’s police municipal depts have become — and how our @bcndpcaucus.bsky.social is playing right along. I really expected better from @eby-david.bsky.social & co. #bcpoli #bced

I mean, why not? It’s 2025. Buckle up kids.

I can. In fact, the Canadian version is so great, I can't think of an American equivalent. 🧵

BC human rights commissioner Kasari Govender criticizing Education Minister Lisa Bear's firing of the Greater Victoria school board She notes the firing "effectively makes school police liaison officer programs mandatory" in BC without evidence they are needed or effective #bcpoli

Hey school trustees! Join us at High Ground 2025, a governance forum for connecting with progressive local electeds, learning from experts, and participating in skills building workshops addressing key issues our communities face. See you in Vancouver Mar 7-8! @civicgovernance.bsky.social #bced

Seems to a good day to repost this one from the archives #bced www.straight.com/news/1201251...

I shared my concerns about the BC NDP’s firing of the Victoria School Board with Jason D’Souza on CBC’s All Points West www.cbc.ca/listen/live-... www.cbc.ca/listen/live-... #bced #bcpoli

A good summary of actual facts about the Victoria School Board’s handling of the police in schools issue. There’s a lot more to what went on than we’re seeing in the headlines. www.sd61.bc.ca/wp-content/u...

“We call on the Minister and the government as a whole to respect the role of democratically elected boards of education, investing the necessary time and commitment required to resolve differences as they arise, and to turn their attention to the pressing issues in our schools” — IPE/BC #bced

Statement from the Institute for Public Education regarding the Education Minister’s firing of the democratically elected Greater Victoria School Board. @publicedbc.bsky.social #bced #bcpoli @davidebybc.bsky.social instituteforpubliceducation.org/ipe-bc-state...

Statement from the Greater Victoria Teachers’ Assn re yesterday’s firing of the Greater Vic School Board. #bced #bcpoli

1. I am deeply disappointed in the @bcndp.bsky.social @lisabeare.bsky.social decision to fire the democratically elected Greater Victoria School Board today. I have fond memories of John Horgan’s support for the VSB when the BCLibs fired us. #bced #bcpoli

This is an (excellent) idea one would expect from an NDP govt and which actually help kids who need help. How about it @lisabeare.bsky.social? Give kids nurses and counselors, not more cops.

How about funding a school nurse or school counsellor as a safety plan? I’m really disgusted with this gross #bcndp over reach and contempt for a democratically elected board.

Firing an elected school board for trying to have a say over how police interact with students definitely fits for a party that campaigned on being better friends to the police than the conservatives. Police hurt people every day, and they shouldn't be in schools.