Vancouver trustees consider playgrounds, webcasting and carpet cleaning
By Janet Steffenhagen 1 Nov 2009 COMMENTS(8) Report Card
Filed under: Vancouver, webcast, board of, carpet cleaning, playgroundnds
A review of Vancouver school playgrounds has concluded that 124 will need to be replaced during the next five years - at an estimated cost of $2.1 million for new equipment and $559,300 to demolish old equipment, prepare the site and install the new equipment.
In the following five years, a further 76 playgrounds will need to be replaced, says a report to be discussed at a committee meeting Tuesday.
"Minor repairs continue to be made as needed, however much of this equipment has reached the point where it will be in need of major repairs in the near future," the report says. "When repairs exceed $1,000, they are deemed to be major repairs and therefore require that the equipment in need of repair meet current standards . . ."
Some schools have multiple playground structures because of a reluctance to remove the old equipment after new equipment is installed, the report says.
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Also on Tuesday, a board committee will hear a presentation from Tim De Vivo of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) about carpet cleaning in the district. The presentation will focus on quality of work, chemical/environmental issues and billing/invoices, says a report on the VSB website.
Staff has prepared a report on the issue, which says the district began using a contracted service for carpet and upholstery cleaning in 2002 to save about $70,000 a year. The 54-page report is in response to a request by the IUOE for a review of that decision.
By contracting out the service, the district also avoided the purchase of two new carpet trucks, the report says, adding that replacing those trucks today would cost $170,000 plus $20,000 a year in operating costs.
"Quality concerns which are raised are dealt with by the company in a timely manner; at no additional cost to the Board," says the report by Bill Ostrom, manager of operations, and Mark Dale, assistant secretary-treasurer. "There is a district program to replace carpets in schools with resilient flooring where practical."
No staff layoffs occurred as a result of the decision to contract out, the report says.
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Vancouver trustees will consider a motion Monday from Mike Lombardi who is interested in whether board meetings could be broadcast live over the internet. The motion recommends "that staff prepare a report on the cost, feasibility and estimated number of viewers to implement web casting of the VBE board meetings.
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John
To Karin,
All available research on this topic shows this is money really well spent. With the Ministry of ED. mandating all day Kindergarten, it's also timely.
Educators and good parents know all too well that school and learning is about building healthy relationships. Good schools foster and teach good relationship skills. These skills pervade the whole school culture and are a consistent feature of our great public school system. Appropriately equipped playgrounds enable the growth of healthy relationships.
Sorry, but you seem miserable and suggest that because you had no playground equipment, no children should have it either at their playgrounds. I`d also listen to the writer`s 5 reasons above before considering this a good place to cut funding.
November 02, 2009 8:57 PM Playgrounds are valuable Part 2
Responding to Karen
I read your article and your post. Here is my respectful response:
First, the link between climbing, balancing, sliding, spinning etc and neural development are many and well documented. I recommend to all posters to investigate this further and make your own conclusions.
Second, kids need green space AND playgrounds. Yes both are required elements of a good school.
I completely disagree with the idea that the playground limits creativity. I challenge you to go to a playground and watch the games kids come up with and the variations they create playing a simple game of tag or similar game.
Third, your example of spinning considers only non-diabled kids. All kinds of kids benefit in terms of learning balance, muscle control from the spinning you refer to. These activities prompote neural growth! I am surprised someone with your background would dispute this or have an issue.
Fourth, these playgrounds serve a role of social hub- a place for kids to meet, to share, to interact. This is where kids can learn to interact in a non-structured environment and learn the lessons in life that school cannot teach.
Fifth, these structures offer a place to burn off extra energy and develop motor skills. In an increasingly urban environment there is decreasing chances to climb trees and fences, we need to use every tool we have to get kids off the couch, away from video games and so much time spent on the computer.
As a parent and a teacher my own children are better students and better focussed when they have had a plenty of exercise and fresh air. A good soccer game or visit to the school playground works wonders when my own kids start acting up. This is particularly true in boys in my experience.
Last, these structures offer a challenge. Something to aspire to in terms of development and challenges to be conquered. I remember when my son mastered the monkey bars the first time-he quickly mastered other things as well-riding a bike, roller skating, etc.
I cannot believe this is even a topic of debate. If I was Minister of Education my motto would be" Work hard and Play hard"
November 02, 2009 5:13 PM Karin Litzcke
I'm far from convinced that these playground structures are a good thing at all; I wrote about my ambivalence toward them last year at www.theschoolsweneed.com/.../602.
I'd rather see these structures demolished when they wear out, and replaced with minimal equipment and more open space. If money's an issue, this is an ideal place to cut costs.
At the very least we could save some money by eliminating the darn spinning toys that playground designers seem so addicted to. I cannot for the life of me understand why the developing brains of children should be subjected to the kinds of g-forces that a tire swing or the standing and sitting spinning stations commonly provided can generate. Kids tend to enjoy spinning, but given an open space with a soft surface can do it themselves, probably more safely. They don't need mechanical assistance or a turbo boost.
I mean, most of the people commenting here probably grew up without a single structure on the playground - I know I did. Wait, I think there were swings and teeter totters. I don't recall being bored at recess. And just because "kids are different these days" due to video games etc doesn't mean we have to cater to that constant overstimulation mentality. Maybe a little understimulation would be good for many kids.
It's a good point that the equipment is used by the neighbourhood, but why does it have to be getting more expensive and fancier all the time? What's next, lights and sound? Ramp it down, for heaven's sake.
November 02, 2009 2:54 PM A different point of view
Vancouver wants taxpayers to fund playground replacement when many playgrounds have been replaced across the province by hard working parent advisory councils.
Typical and wrong.
There should be one standard across the province and it should not always be taxpayer funding to deal with everything.
Playgrounds have always been something schools and the community raised funds to build.
November 02, 2009 12:35 PM Nat
I know of schools that have 2 playgrounds one in the primary end and one in the intermediate end of the school.
November 01, 2009 10:19 PM Playgrounds are Valuable
This topic shows the complex nature of school funding and how schools are a community asset for more people than just those with kids.
Like any asset, playgrounds depreciate with time and use and are used by not just students but the entire community.
Remember when you were a kid and wandered the neighbourhood and would conenct up with other kids and play soccer, football, kick the can, capture the flag, etc? Guess where you often ended up-the public school playground. How many life lessons were learned at the playground?
These playgrounds are investments in neighbourhoods and serve as infrastructure, no different than pools, streets or the Port Mann Bridge or RAV Line.
Want your kids to be active? Go to the playground. Want your kids to get into trouble? Give them nothing to do and they can hang around the 7-eleven.
Another important point is that these play structures need to built well, well designed and educators and city planners need to have a plan in place to replace them. Remember a few years back when Home Depot was giving schools funding to build playgrounds? is that still occurring? I would like to know. Was that business plan for this infrastructure sustainable?
November 01, 2009 8:56 PM Patti Bacchus
As per the previous post and Janet's note, some schools have more than one structure. As elementary schools span K - 7, there are often separate primary and intermediate areas.
November 01, 2009 8:11 PM DLM
Can someone explain how, if according to this report there are 200 playgrounds requiring replacement (124+76=200) where they are are located. According the Vancouver School District website there are total 138 schools in total:
75 Elementary Schools
16 Elementary Annexes
18 Secondary Schools
22 Alternative Education Program sites
7 Adult Education Centres
Where does the 200 number come from? Do the secondary and adult education centres have playgrounds? Do some school have more than one playground? Even if this is the case the number does not match what is being reported as needing replacement?
JS. Some have more than one playground structure -- I've now noted that in the post.
November 01, 2009 6:51 PM
