A rally in support of Vancouver School Board (VSB) trustees fired by the province’s education minister earlier this week is being planned for Thursday night.
Initially, the rally was supposed to take place at John Oliver Secondary School. Instead, it will now take place outside the VSB headquarters at 1580 West Broadway in Vancouver. The BC Federation of Labour claims the rally has been forced to change locations after a VSB decision-maker prevented event organizers from renting John Oliver Secondary School.
The event start time at 5:30 p.m. remains unchanged.
The rally is being organized by a number of VSB unions, including the Vancouver Secondary Teachers’ Association and the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
Education Minister Mike Bernier fired the entire VSB board Monday morning for failing to adopt a balanced budget by June 30.
Bernier said the board had “a misplaced focus on political tactics rather than responsible stewardship.”
Former VSB chair person Mike Lombardi called the firing “outrageous” and said the VSB is being “run out” by the government.
In April, the board refused to balance the budget. And in June, Bernier announced that a full review and forensic audit of the VSB would be launched following the board’s decision to reject a Ministry of Education proposal to partially address the board’s $18-million shortfall by selling the Kingsgate Mall.
The Vancouver board was the only district in the province that did not submit a balanced budget by June 30.
WATCH: Legislative Bureau Chief Keith Baldrey weighs in on the firing of the Vancouver School Board.
Along with not submitting a balanced budget, Bernier cited the WorkSafeBC investigation into allegations board trustees bullied senior management staff to the point where some staffers have taken leave, as a reason for the decision.
Former Delta School District Superintendent Dianne Turner has been appointed trustee and will be in the position for a year with the option to extend. As the trustee, Turner assumes all the duties and responsibilities typically required of a board of education, including the obligations to conduct public board meetings and community consultations.
On Tuesday, furstrated Vancouver parents concerned about the decision to fire the board delivered boxes of petitions with more than 18,000 signatures to B.C.’s Minister of Education.
READ MORE: Vancouver parents criticize school board dismissal, petition minister
The signatures on the “Save Our Schools” petitions delivered to the education minister were gathered by students and parents in recent months because they were concerned about the possible closures of 11 schools in East Vancouver, including Gladstone Secondary, Britannia Secondary and several elementary schools. They won a moratorium on school closures in early October.
But Education Minister Mike Bernier said school closures were not on the agenda for Turner.
READ MORE: No schools to close in Vancouver following school board dismissal, says Minister
~ with files from Paula Baker, Tanya Beja and Alia Dharssi
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