In chronological order

In November 2007 Gordon parents passed a resolution to formally oppose the current VSB proposal for Gordon School and to ask for a proper process to ensure the best school possible, whether a new or renovated building. A petition was begun asking for the same, and was signed by 550 residents. We sent a delegation to the VSB Committee ll meeting on Feb 5th to ask for a change in the process, bringing our resolution, the document "What's wrong with the Seismic Mitigation Process" and a Jericho Kids Club statement from Christine Hibbert, the Director of our after-school care provider. Our process was tabled. The VSB wrote a letter to the Ministry of Education, to follow up on our concerns.

At the Feb 2008 PAC meeting, Gordon parents passed a resolution, 48-0, to demand better options for a seismically upgraded school. This resolution, the accompanying Gordon Building Renewal Committee Report, our petition, and the "What's wrong.." document were all sent to the Ministry of Education, with a letter asking for a meeting. The Ministry responded with a letter.

Our Feb 2008 resolution was presented to Committee II on March 4th. Our teachers, Kitchener School and Kits Secondary school also presented, all stating that the schools on offer were not good enough. No action was taken by the Board at this meeting.

Gordon parents are talking with City representatives to discuss how the City can work with the school board to use the schools as community hubs. Z Smith presented at the Special Council Meeting on Ecodensity, to propose that Gordon School be a pilot study in combining the needs of the Ministry, the VSB, the City and environmental initiatives. Handout and slides.

We met with Premier Gordon Campbell March 12th 2008, and Z Smith presented Schools as neighbourhood centres. The Premier was supportive, and spoke of forming a working group to address the issues around schools as community space. He asked us to send him two documents. These were compiled by speaking with other PACs: what facilities schools are losing under the current area standards, and school construction rules with unintended or undesirable consequences.

April 6th 2008. Gordon parents attended the Think Schools conference. One of the objectives of the conference was to "Develop a vision for renewing Vancouver schools in order to leave our children and our neighbourhoods with a legacy of public buildings that will serve as community hibs for our communities".

June 3rd 2008. Gordon parents presented at Vancouver School Board Committee II meeting, asking that Gordon school be a pilot, along with other schools, of a new process for seismic renewal.

Sept 3rd 2008, the Premier and the Ministry of Education announced the funding of a $30 million pilot project for school upgrades, called the Neighbourhoods of Learning project. Gordon Elementary, Strathcona Elementary, Queen Mary Elementary, and two as yet unnamed rural schools will be renovated or replaced to make the schools into neighbourhood centres. These developments will start with community input. Press release.

Feb 9th 2009. The first meeting on the Neighbourhoods of Learning project at Gordon. The NoL program has 'Representative Teams' from each school to help define the "program" (the list of required spaces and areas) that will be given to design teams. Brook and Associates are the consultants coordinating the NoL meetings. Attendees at the first meeting from Gordon included staff, parents, the director of JKC and a Kits community member.

April 23rd 2009. All-day visioning meeting including more parents and teachers. Parent Z Smith made this presentation. This newsletter, written by the consultants, summarizes the common themes for the renewed school that have come up so far. Part 1 and Part 2 of a Visioning session booklet produced by Brook and Associates following the Visioning Session.

May 25th 2009. The consultants present at the PAC meeting, to seek input from more parents. A comment form for parental feedback was distributed.

Sept 15th 2009 and onwards - RT meetings for consultants, VSB and Gordon staff, parents and community.

November 12th - Information evening run by the Gordon renewal committee. 7-8pm in Gordon school library. Open to parents and community members. In depth look at the issues and possibilities for Gordon’s seismic upgrade.

November 19th - NCLD Open house. 3-7pm in Gordon School gym. Your feedback on the comment forms will be used by the architects in their design of a renewed school.