Dear Vancouver parents:
 
With the start of the new school year already delayed two weeks, I am so frustrated that my children are not getting the education they deserve. The executive officers of Vancouver DPAC have been focusing on getting our kids back to school. To this effect, we've been in communications with parents from Vancouver schools, BCCPAC (the provincial confederation of PACs), and Vancouver school board trustees, and participating in rallies and interviews with both print and broadcast media. We strongly prefer a negotiated settlement, but believe binding arbitration is the best alternative solution. Our kids' education can't wait.
 
Your DPAC has launched a post card campaign with a call to action to government to immediately get students back into fully funded public schools.  You can add your voice of support by downloading it from our website at:  http://www.vancouverdpac.org/get-involved--strike-.html 
 
Please join us to rally for public education at the Vancouver Art Gallery, this Sunday September 14th at 10 am. Help parents keep the pressure on to get our children back in school. For ideas on how you can help, please look at the suggestions and information on our webpage.  
 
Please join us in our efforts and stay in touch with your DPAC executive about what your PAC and school are doing. We ask that the PAC chair and DPAC Chair from every school sign up for our mailing list. http://www.vancouverdpac.org/subscribe--pac-executive-mailing-list-.html
 
If you are receiving this message and are not currently involved with your PAC, please share this information, as we know many PACs are not meeting during the strike and we need help to update our contact list. We also invite parents to join us on Facebook and Twitter  
 
Your DPAC executive has ideas and plans for the 2014-2015 school year, with Vancouver’s public school kids as our priority and inspiration, top of mind right now is getting our kids back in the classroom. Let’s remember the reason we have public education: the children of BC, the future of this province. Invest in our children now, they are the future.
 
Melanie Antweiler, PhD, 2014/2015 VDPAC Chair
VDPAC Website