COPE’s Suzie Mah opposes School Board budget that fails Vancouver students

COPE School Trustee Suzie Mah cast the lone opposition vote Monday evening as the ABC-led Vancouver School Board voted to pass a Financial Plan that fails to meet the needs of students in our city and to reflect extensive feedback from parents, students, and other stakeholders in our public education system. 

“I’m extremely disappointed that all 11 of the motions to amend the 2025-2026 were rejected by the ABC and other Trustees,” said Suzie Mah. “The Budget falls short of what our students need and deserve. This is a result of chronic underfunding by the Province, but also a failure to be responsive and flexible to the needs expressed by delegations of students, parents, and unions representing public education workers.” 

The Budget votes passed by a margin of 7 to 1. ABC, former ABC, and Green Party school trustees voted in favour of the Budget. Mah voted against. Another elected trustee, OneCity’s Jennifer’s Reddy, was denied the ability to participate virtually in the Budget meeting despite the fact such hybrid accommodation has been a practice in school boards across B.C. 

Last week, Suzie Mah brought forward motions to amend the Budget. Among other amendments rejected, ABC trustees voted ‘No’ to stopping cuts to the Safe and Caring Schools program, ‘No’ to being a Living Wage employer resulting in a 25% pay cut for bus drivers who drive special needs students to schools, and ‘No’ to replacing Resource Teachers when they are away sick or covering for classroom teachers who are away.

“ABC gets a failing grade when it comes to looking out for Vancouver’s students,” said Mah. “This inflexibility with respect to amending the VSB Budget comes on the heels of the ABC Council’s inexplicable decision to cut back the City’s grant for school meal programs in Vancouver,” Mah added. 

This week Vancouver City Council will consider a motion to restore full funding to the school meal grant program. 

Suzie Mah and COPE will always fight for public education and fight to put the needs of students, parents, and education workers ahead of greed and austerity. 

“I will continue fighting for Vancouver’s public education, and next year I will work with allies in every corner of Vancouver to elect more fighters for the schools we need,” concluded Mah.